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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproi^uctions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Tachnical  and  Bibliographic  Notat/Notas  tachniquaa  at  bibiiographiquaa 


The  Instituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  bast 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturas  of  this 
copy  which  may  ba  bibiiographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  images  in  tha 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I — I    Covers  damaged/ 


D 
D 
D 
D 
D 


n 


Couverture  endommagie 


□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  pelliculAe 

□    Cover  title  missing/ 
La  titra  de  couverture  manque 


Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gAographiquas  an  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

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along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  4tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  M  filmias. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  M  possible  de  se  procurer.  Las  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-^tre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  axiger  una 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  filmaga 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 

□   Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  da  couleur 

|~71    Pages  damaged/ 
\x-l    Pages  endommagies 

|~~l    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


D 
D 


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Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe« 
Pages  dicolories,  tachetAes  ou  piqu^es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ditachies 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


FT]    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
nn    Pages  detached/ 
r~7]    Showthrough/ 


|~n    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  in^gala  de  I'impression 

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Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 


Only  edition  available/ 
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slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  psrtiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'arrata.  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  iti  film^es  A  nouveau  de  ?acon  i 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


0 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires; 


Pages  147  to  155  are  missing. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

"7 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmed  h«r«  has  b««n  r«produc«d  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

D.B.  Weldon  Library 
University  of  Western  Ontario 


L'axamplaira  f  ilmi  f  ut  raproduit  grica  i  la 
gAnArositA  da: 

D.B.  Weldon  Library 
University  of  Western  Ontario 


Tha  imagaa  appaaring  hara  af  tha  baat  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Original  copiaa  In  printad  papar  covara  ara  flimad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  Impraa- 
slon,  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copias  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  iliustratad  impraa- 
sion,  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illuatratad  imprassion. 


Laa  imagaa  suivantaa  ont  «tA  raproduitas  avac  la 
plua  grand  soin.  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattat*  da  l'axamplaira  filmA,  at  an 
conformity  avac  lac  condltiona  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 

Laa  axamplairaa  originaux  dont  la  couvartura  an 
papiar  aat  imprimte  sont  filmte  an  commandant 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
darniAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'Impraaaion  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Toua  laa  autras  axamplairaa 
originaux  aont  fllmAa  on  commandant  par  la 
pramlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraasion  ou  d'illustration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  darniira  paga  qui  comporta  una  taila 
amprainta. 


Tha  laat  racordad  frama  on  aach  microficha 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  -^(moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  y  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  appliaa. 


Un  daa  symbolaa  suivants  apparaftra  sur  la 
darniira  imaga  da  chaqua  microficha,  salon  la 
caa:  la  symbols  -^  signifia  "A  SUIVRE",  la 
symbols  ▼  signifia  "FIN". 


Mapa,  platas,  charts,  ate,  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  raductlon  ratioa,  Thosa  too  larga  to  ba 
antiraly  includad  in  ona  axposura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  cornar,  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  framaa  aa 
raquirad.  Tha  following  diagrams  iiiustrata  tha 
mathod: 


Laa  cartaa,  planchaa,  tabiaaux,  ate,  pauvant  Atra 
fllmte  k  daa  taux  da  rMuction  diffArants. 
Loraqua  la  documant  aat  trop  grand  pour  Atra 
raproduit  an  un  saui  clichA,  11  aat  filmA  A  partir 
da  I'angla  supAriaur  gaucha,  da  gaucha  A  droita, 
at  da  haut  an  baa,  an  pranant  la  nombra 
d'imagaa  nteaasaira.  Las  diagrammas  suivants 
iilustrant  la  mAthoda. 


12  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

•WT 


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'■*■     HNi    -Trat,:. 


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THE 


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Qt0tors»  fHaimers  an^  Cnsloms 


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OF  THE 


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NORTH  AMESICAN  INDIANS. 


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Bi'lil 


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BEVI6ED  BT  TITE  COMMtTTBB  OP  VOnUCKtJO'"  OP  THI 
▲MEBICAN  8UK0AY-80B0OL  UNIOM.    . 


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>  PHILADELPHIA: 

*  AMERICAN   SUNDAY-SCHOOL  «|NIO!C, 


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"*>»^  ■ 


NO.    146  CHESTNUT  I^TREET. 


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PREFACE. 


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The  present  volume  is  in  substance  a  reprint 
from  a  work  published  by  the  Ixmdon  Religious 
Tract  Society,  and  is,  we  believe,  chiefly  compiled 
from  the  works  of  our  enterprising  countryman, 
Catlin.  It  is  rendered  especially  attractive  by 
the  spirited  and  impressive  pictorial  illustrations 
of  Indian  life  and  scenery  with  which  it  abounds. 

Great  changes  have  occurred  in  late  years,  in  the 
circumstances  and  prospects  of  the  Indian  tribes, 
and  neither  their  number  nor  condition  can  be 
ascertained  with  much  accuracy.  We  have  en- 
deavoured to  make  the  present  edition  as  correct 
as  possible,  and  have  omitted  some  parts  of  the 
original  work  which  seemed  irrelevant,  or  not  well 
authenticated.  We  hare  alit)  made  such  changes 
in  the  phraseology  as  its  republication  in  this 

country  requires.  *•  ,0?     ^     . 

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THE 


INDIANS  OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 


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CHAFraR  I.    ^ 

It  was  on  a  wild  and  fisty  day,  that  Austin 
and  Brian  Edwards  were  returning  home  from  a 
visit  to  their  uncle,  who  lived  at  a  distance  of 
four  or  five  miles  from  their  father's  dwellings 


:m 


8 


TTHE   INDIANS  OF 


t 


¥", 


m 


I  • 


,«" 


-s. 


r\rf.     :\ 


when  the  wind,  which  was  already  high,  rose 
suddenly ;  and  the  heavens,  which  had  K>r  some 
hours  been  overclouded,  grew  darker,  with  every 
appearance  of  an  approaching  storm.  Brian  was 
for  returning  back ;  but  to  this  Austin  would  by 
no  means  consent.  Austin  was  twelve  years  of 
age,  and  Brian  about  two  years  younger.  Their 
brother  Basil,  who  was  not  with  them,  had  hardly 
completed  his  sixth  year. 

The  three  brothers,  though  unlike  in  some 
things — for  Austin  was  daring,  Brian  fearful,  and 
Basil  affectionate — very  closely  resembled  each 
other  in  their  love  of  books  and  wonderful  rela- 
tions. What  one  read,  the  other  would  read ; 
and  what  one  had  learned,  the  other  wished  to 
know.      ^ 

Louder  and  louder  blew  the  wind,  and  darker 
grew  the  sky,  and  already  had  a  distant  flash  and 
growling  thunder  announced  the  coming  storm, 
when  the  two  brothers  arrived  at  the  rocky  emi- 
nence where,^though  the  wood  ^s  above  them, 
the  river  rolled  nearly  a  hundred  fathoms  below. 
Some  years  before,  a  slip  of  ground  had  taken 
plpce  at  no  great  distance  from  the  spot,  when  a 
mass  of  earth,  amounting  to  well  nigh  half  an 
acre,  with  the  oak  trees  that  grew  upon  it,  slid 
down,  all  at  onc6,  towards  the  river.  The  rugged 
rent  occasioned  b|  the  slip  of  earth,  the  great 
height  of  the  road  above  the  river,  the  rude  rocks 
that  here  and  there  piiBsented  themselves,  and  the 
giant  oaks  of  the  wood  frowning  on  the  dangerous 
'  path,  gave  it  a  character  at  once  highly  pictur- 
esque and  fearful.    Austin,  notwithstanding  the 


!«**•" 


'■■^  i 


''L'-^lil 


■*•. 


t 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


9 


loud  blustering  of  the  wind,  and  the  remonstrance 
of  his  brother  to  hasten  on,  made  a  momentary 
pause  to  enjoy  the  scene. 

In  a  short  time  the  two  boys  had  approached 
the  spot  where  a  low,  jutting  rock  of  red  sand- 
stone, around  which  the  roots  of  a  large  tree  were 
seen  clinging,  narrowed  the  path ;  so  that  there 
was  only  the  space  of  a  few  feet  between  XheJ/g^e 
of  the  rock  and  an  abrupt  and  fearful  precipi<!b. 

Austin  was  looking  down  on  the  riv^i^lid 
Brian  was  holding  his  cap  to  prevent  it  l^ns 
blown  from  his  head,  when,  between  th6  fitful 
blasts,  a  loud  voice,  or  rather  a  cry,  was  heard. 
"Stop,  boys,  stop!  come  not  a  foot  farther  on 
peril  of  your  lives!"  Austin  and  Brian  stood 
still,  neither  of  them  knowing  whence  came  the 
cry,  nor  what  was  the  danger  that  threatened 
them ;  they  were,  however,  soon  sensible  of  the 
latter,  for  the  rushing  winds  swept  through  the 
wood  with  a  louder  roar,  and,  all  at  once,  part 
of  the  red  sand-stone  rock  gave  way  with  the 
giant  oak  whose  roots  were  wrapped  round  it,  ^ 
when  the  massy  ruin,  with  a  fearful  crash,  fell  ^ 
headlong  across  the  path,  and  right  over  the 
precipice.  Brian  trembled  with  affright,  and 
Austin  turned  pale.  In  another  minute  an  active 
man,  somewhat  in  years,  was  seen  making  his 
way  over  such  parts  of  the  fallen  rock  as  had 
.  lodged  on  the  precipice.  It  was  he  v^o  had 
given  the  two  brothers  such  timely  notice  of  their 
r^  danger,  and  thereby  saved  their  lives. 

Austin  was  about  to  thank  him,  but  hardly  had 
he  began  to  speak,  when  the  stranger  stopped 


j^ 


I 


• 


10 


I 


'Wf 


THE    INDIANS   OF     ^ 


fi*-' 


4 


him.  "  Thank  God,  my  young  friends,"  said  he, 
>vith  much  emotion,  "and  not  me ;  for  we  are  all 
in  his  hands.  It  is  his  goodness  that  has  pre- ' 
served  you.*"  In  a  little  time  the  stranger  had ' 
led  Austin  and  Brian,  talking  kindly  to  them 
all  the  way,  to  his  comfortable  home,  which 
was  at  no  great  distance  from  the  bottom  of  the 
wood. 

Scarcely  had  they  seated  themselves,  when  the 
storm  came  on  in  full  fury.  As  flash  after  flash 
seemed  to  rend  the  dark  clouds,  the  rain  came 
(low9  like  a  deluge,  and  the  two  boys  were  thank- 
MMi  find  themselves  in  so  comfortable  a  shelter. 
Brian's  attention  was  all  taken  up  with  the  storm, 
while  Austin  was  surprised  to  sec  the  room  all 
hung  round  with  lances,  ^ows  and  arrows,  quivers, 
tomahawks,  and  other  weapons  of  Indian  warfare ; 
together  with  pouches,  girdles,  and  garments  of 
great  beauty,  such  as  he  had  never  before  seen. 
A  sight  so  unexpected  both  astonished  and  pleased 
him,  and  made  a  deep  impression  on  his  mind. 

It  was  some  time  before  the  storm  had  spent 
its  rage,  so  that  the  two  brothers  had  some  plea- 
sant conversation  with  the  stranger,  who  talked 
tl  them  cheerfully.  He  di^  not,  however,  fail  to 
^^  rell  much^n  the  goodness  of  God  in  their  pre- 
lei*vation ;  nor  did  he  omit  to  urge  on  them  to 
read,  oa  their  return  home,  the/first  two  verses  of 
the  forty-sixth  Psalm,  which  he  said  might  dish 
|)oee  them  to  look  upwards  with  thankfulness 
and  confidence.  Austin  and  Brian  left  the  stran-  «#? 
ger,  truly  grateful  for  the  kindness  which  had^ 
been  shown  ^em;    and  the  former  felt  deter- 


m 


'*%■. 


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J^ 


^'«k 


,  ■■'■.v 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


11 


mined  it  should  not  be  his  fault,  if  he  did  no!/ 
before  long,  make  another  visit  to  the  place. 

When  the  boys  arrived  at  home,  they  related, 
in  gloMing  colours,  and  with  breathless  haste, 
the  adventure  which  had  befallen  them.  Brian 
dwelt  on  the  black  clouds,  the  vivid  lightning, 
and^he  rolling  thunder;  while  Austin  described, 
with  startling  efl'ect,  the  sudden  cry  which  had 
arrested  their  steps  near  the  narrow  pa!h,  ^d  the 
dreadful  crash  of  the  red  sand-stone  rocK,  when 
it  broke  over  the  precipice,  with  the  big^oa^->tree 
that  grew  above  it.  ^^  Had  vre  uot  been  49j|ffi»ped 
by  the  cry,"  said  he,  **  we  must  in  ailBtnef 
minute  havgjjeen  dashed  to  pieces.^  He  then,' 
after  recounting  how  kind  the  stranger  had  b^en 
to  them,  entered  on  the  subject  of  the  Indis^, 
weapons.     _ 

stranger  who  had  rendered  the 

t  a  service  was  dressed  like  a 

here  was  'that  in  hioB  man||er  so 

ation  he  occupied,  1|iAt 

somewhat  romat^cin 

ght  upon  by  the  Iiraiaii 

e  had  seen,  thought  he^i 

nt  ^HMTson  in  disguise.     This 

'  *"|  lepnsiderable  con^dence,  and 

i«asons  in  s%port  of  his 


tions 
and 
some 
he  infj 
assigned  se 
opinion. 
Brian  re 


Austin  of  the  two  ter4^  thfry 
were  to  read ;  t»»d,  when  thte  Bible  wa^j^^^pkied, 
he  read  aloud,%^<  God  is  our  refuge  ani^nlp^^h  J^ 
a  very  Jjresent  'help  in  trouble.    Ther^felNM^ 
ntt'we  fear,  though  the  earth  be  tremidimd,  9nd 


Thou 
boys  ^ 
com 
supe 
being 


'ff 


'>;«. 


I!t 


^■■;- 


** 


ir  '  li 


THE  INDIANS  OP 


m-  M' 


though  the  mountains  be  carried  into  the  midst 
of  the  sea." 

"  Ah,"  said  Austin,  "  we  had,  indeed,  a  nar- 
row escape ;  for  if  the  mountains  were  not  carried 
into  the  sea,  the  rock  fell  almost  into  the  river." 
I-  On  the  morrow,  Mr.  Edwards  was  early  on  his 

^  «*♦  .way,  to  offer  his  best  thanks,  with  those  of  Mrs. 
fe*        Edwards,  to  the  stranger  who  had  saved  the  lives 
»%        of  his  children.     He  met  him  at  the  door,  and 
in  an  interview  of  half  an  hour  Mr.  Edv/ards 
learned  that  the  stranger  was  the  son  of  a  fur 

*  trad^;  and  that,  after  the  death  of  his  father,  he 
had  spent  several  years  among  the  Indian  tribes, 

1^  resting  in  their  wigwams,  hunting  f(^  them,  and 

*  dealing  in  furs ;  but  that,  having  mefei^ith  an  injury 
in  his  dangerous  calling,  he  had  at  last  abandoned 
that  mode  of  life.  Being  fond  of  solitude,  he  had 
resolved,  having  the  means  of  foUbiidlRg  out  his 
plans,  to  purchase  a  small  est^e,  an^  a  few^sheep ; 
he  should  then  be  employed  ^  the  og^ittT,  and 
doubted  not  that  opportilni^ds^^'ViFSw;  occur, 
wl^erein  he  could  make  himsei^^  useAft  &  the 
neighbourhood.  There  was,  also,  i£»iother  ifioti ve 
that  much  influenced  him  in  his  plans*  iB^mind 
had  for  some  time  been  deeply  impress<6cl  with 
divine  things,  and  he  yeamM  for  that  privacy 
and  repose,  which,  while  it  would  not  prevent 
him  from  attending  on  God's  worship,  would 
allow  him  freely  to  meditate  on  His  holy  word, 
which  for  some  time  had  been  the  delight  of  his 
lieart. 

He  told  Mr.  Edwards,  that  he  had  lived  there 
for  some  months ;  and  that,  on  entering  the  wood 


\ 


* 


m 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


Ig^ 


^1*  ~- 


the  day  before,  close  by  the  narrow  path,  he  per- 
ceived by  the  swaying  of  the  oak  tree  and  moviifg 
of  the  sand-stone  rock,  that  there  was  every  pro* 
bability  of  their  falling :  this  had  induced  him  to 
give  that  timely  warning  which  had  been  the 
means,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  of  preserving  ih^' 
young  lads  from  their  danger. 

Mr.  Edwards  perceived,  by  his  conversation^ 
and  manners,  that  he  was  of  respectable  charac- 
ter; and  some  letters  both  from  missionaries  and   - 
ministers,  addressed  to  the  stranger,  spoke  loudly 
in  favour  of  his  piety.     After  offering  him  his 
best  thanks,  in  a  warm-hearted  manner,  and  ex-  ' 
pressing  freelyt]^  pleasure  it  would  give  him,  if 
he  could  in  anj^way  act  tt  neighbourly  part  in 
adding  to  his  comfort,  Mr.  Edwprds  inquired  if 
his  children  might  be  permitted  to   call  at  the 
house,  to  inspect  the  many  curiosities  that  were 
there.    This  being  readily  assented  to,  Mr.  Ed- 
wards took  his  departure  with  a  very  favourable 
impressicm  of  his  new  neighbour,  with  whom  he 
had  so  unexpectedly  been  made  acquainted. 

Austin  and  Brian  were,  with  some  impatience, 
awaiting  their  father's  return,  and  when  they 
knew  that  the  stranger  who  had  saved  their  lives 
had  actually  passed  years  among  the  Indians,  on 
the  prairies  and  in  the  woods :  that  he  had  slept  t 
in  their  wigwams;  hunted  beavers,  bears,  and 
buffaloes  with  them;  shared  in  their  games; 
heflpd  their  wild  war-whoop,  and  witnessed  their 
battles,  their  delight  was  unbounded.  Austin 
took  large  credit  for  his  penefration  in  discovering 
that  their  new  friend  was  not  a  common  shepherd. 


% 


'If 


"W 


14 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


t^-- 


and  signified  his  intention  of  becoming  thoroughljl^ 
informed  of  all  the  manners  and  customs  of  th6 
North  American  Indians. 

Nothing  could  have  been  more  agreeable  to 
the  young  people  than  this  unlooked-for  addition 
to'  their  enjoyment.  They  had  heard  of  the 
Esquimaux,  of  Negroes,  Malays,  New  Zealanders, 
Chinese,  Turks,  and  Tartars ;  but  very  little  of 
the  North  American  Indians.  It  was  generally 
agreed,  as  leave  had  been  given  them  to  call  at 
the  stranger's,  that  the  sooner  they  did  it  the  better. 
Little  Basil  was  to  be  of  the  party ;  and  it  would 
be  a  difficult  thing  to  decide  which  of  the  three 
brbthers  looked  forward  to  the  pjEpposed  ii-terview 
"with  the  greatest  pleasure. 

Austin,  Brian,  and  Basil,  had  at  different  times 
found  abundant  amusement  in  reading  of  parrots, 
humming  birds,  and  cocoa  nuts ;  lions,  tigers, 
leopards,  elephants,  and  the  hornfed  rhinoceros; 
monkeys,  riccoons,  opossums,  and  sloths ;  mos- 
quitoes, lizards,  snakes,  and  scaly  cKCodiles ;  but 
these  were  noltiing  in  their  estimation,  compared 
with  an  accoufit  of  Indians,  bears,  and  buffaloes, 
from  the  mouth  of  one  who  had  actually  lived 
among  them. 


*r.      'V 


1      •■    §*■• 


■;ft" 


«?!';,:' 


* 


''■''f'^ 


Tfff''  "'Wir.;-?R'"Wi  'V**  '■"■ 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


i& 


Indian  Scenery. 


CHAPTER  «. 


..«■:. 


^k: 


Austin  Edwards  was  too  ardent  in  his  pur- 
suits not  to  make  the  intended  visit  to  the  cottage 
near  fhe  wood  the  continued  theme  of  his  conver- 
sation with  his  brothers  through  the  remainder  of 
the  day ;  and,  when  he  retired  to  rest,  ii)  his 
dreams  he  was  either  wandering  through  the 
forest  defenceless,  having  lost  his  tomahawk,  or 
flying  Over  the  prairie  on  the  back  of  a  buffalo, 
amid  the  yelling  of  a  thousand  Indians. 

The  sun  was  bright  in  the  skies  when  the  thife 

brothers  set  out  on  their  anticipated  excursi^||| 

Austin  was  loud  in  praise  of  their  kM  preservifepf 

but  h^ould  not  at  all  understand  tow  ai^^onei 

::jirho  had  been  a  hunter  of  bears  and  l^wdpesi- 


.'^W 


.'> 


.  *rf 


If 


w 


£ 


16 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


could  quietly  ll^le  down  to  lead  the  liic  ot  ix 
farmer ;  for  hii  part,  he  would  have  remained  a 
hunter  for  ever.  Brian  thought  the  hunter  had 
acted  a  wise  part  in  coming  away  from  so  many 
d^gers ;  and  little  Basil,  not  being  quite  able  to 
diHe  which  of  his  two  brothers  was  right,  re- 
mained silent. 

As  the  two  elder  brothers  wished  to  shqw  Basil 
the  place  where  they  stood  when  the  oak  tree  and 
the  red  sand-stone  rock  fell  over  the  precipice 
with  a  crash ;  and  as  Basil  was  equally  desirous* 
to  visit  the  spot,  they  went  up  to  it.  Austin 
helped  his  little  brother  over  the  broken  fragments 
-\rhibh  still  lay  scattered  over  the  narrow  path. 
It/^as  a  sight  that  would  have  impressed  the 
mind  of  any  one ;  and  Brian  looked  up  with  awe 
to  the  remaining  part  of  the  rifled  rock,  above 
wMch  the  Jallen  oak  tree  had  stood.  Austin 
was  very  el^^nt  in  his  description  of  the  sudden 
voice  of  the  stranger,  of  the  roaring,  wind  as  it 
rushed  through  the  wood,  and  of  the  clashing  tree 
and  falling  rock.  Basil  showed  greal  asdonish- 
ment ;  and  they  all  descended  from  the  command- 
ing height,  vfull  of  the  fearful  adventure  of  the 
preceding  day.^ 

. ;  When  they  were  come  within  sight  of  the  wood, 
Brian  cried  out  that  he  could  see  the  shepherd's 
cottage  ;  but  Austin  told  him  that  he  ought  noflc^ 
0^1  the  cottager  a  shepherd,  but  a  hunter.  It  was<*;' 
tpie  t)iat  he  had  a  flock  of  sheep,  but  he  kept  theni 
|il>re  to  employ  his  time  than  to  get.a  l^xing  by 
them.  For  many  years  he  had  lived  aniong  the 
Indians,  and  hunted  buffaloes  with  them ;  he  was, 


"V 


■t' 


.  ^-^f  ■>. 


,*i^  ■■  "-"winw- 


<; 


nail* 


NORTH  AMERICA.  "^IJI 

therefore,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  a  bufl||o 
hunter,  and  ought  not  to  be  called  a.shephera.  • 
This  irafportant  point-  being  settled-*-?^^  and 
Basil  having  agreed  to  call  him,  in  Jbture,  a  hunter, 
and  not  a  shepherd — they  walked  j^n  hastily  to  the 
cottage  fi  :^;:-v'S  >  >'  ^%  ;•■  f ' 

In  fivejminutes  after,  the  hunt^  was  showing  ' 
and  eX|j9ning  to  his  delighted  young  visitors  the 
Indian  curiosities  which  hung  around  the  walls 
of  his  cottage,  together  with  others  which  he  kept 
with  greater  care.     These  latter  were  principally 
calumets,  or  peace-pipes ;  mocassins,  or  Indian 
shoes ;    war-eagle   dresses,    mantles,  Acklaces,|  f|« 
shields,  belts,  pouches  and  war-clubs  oSsuperioSlif^ 
workmanship.     There  was  also  an  Indian  CF(^dIe, 
and  several  rattles  and  musical  instruments  :  these 
altogether  afforded  the  young  people  wondrous 
entertainment.     Austin  wanted  to  know  how  the 
Indians  used  their  war-clubs ;  Brian  inquired  how 
they  smoked  the  peace-pipe  ;  and  little  Basil  was 
quite  as  anxious  in  his  questions  about  a  rattle, 
which  he  had  taken  up  and  was  shaking  to  and  * 
fro.     To  all  these  inquiries  the  hunter  gave  satis- 
factory re{)lies,  with  a  promise  to  enter  afterwards 
on  a  more  full  explanation.  ^  .,^^ 

In  addition  to  these  curiosities,  the  young  peo- 
ple were  shown  a  few  specimens  of  different 
kinds  of  furs :  as  those  of  the  beaver,  ermine, 
jSable,  martin,  fiery  fox,  black  fox,  silver  fox,  jmd 
r?squirrel.  Austin  \nshed  to  know  all  at  onoe,  ; 
where,  and  in  what  way  these  fur  ^i^als  we|||  ■ 
caught;  and,  with  this  end  in  view,  he  contrived 
Xo  get  the  hunter  into  conversation  on  the  subject, 

f  9* 


# 


.jf' 


I 


18 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


r 


■** 


**  I  suppose,"  said  he,  "  that  you  know  all  about 
beavers,  and  martins,  and  foxes,  and  squirrels." 

Hunter.  I  ought  to  know  something  about 
them,  having  been  in  my  time  somewhat  of  ^ 
Voyageur,  a  Coureur  des  boisy  a  Trapper,  and  a 
Freeman ;  but  you  will  hardly  understan4  these 
terms  without  some  little  explanation. 

Austin,    What  is  a  Coureur  des  bois  }^ 

Brian,    What  is  a  Voyageur  ? 

Basil.    I  want  to  know  what  a  Trapper  is. 

Hunter,  Perhaps  it  will  be  better  if  I  give 
you  a  short  account  of  the  way  in  which  the  furs 
of  different  animals  are  obtained,  and  then  I  can 
explain  the  terms,  Voyageur,  Coureur  des  bois, 
Trapper,  and  Freeman,  as  well  as  a  fevfr^  other 
things  which  you  may  like  to  know. 

Brian,    Yes,  that  will  be  the  best  way. 
I  Austin,     Please  not  to  let  it  be  a  short  account, 
but  a  long  one.     Begin  at  the  very  beginning, 
and  go  on  to  the  very  end. 

Hunter.  Well,  we  shall  see.  It  has  pleased 
God,  as  we  read  in  the  first  chapter  of  the  book 
of  Genesis,  to  give  man  "  dominion  over  the  fish 
of  the  sea,  and  over  the  fowl  of  the  air,  and  over 
the  cattle,  and  over  all  the  earth,  and  over  every 
creeping  thing  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth."  The 
meaning  of  which  is,  no  doubt,  not  that  he  may 
cruelly  abuse  them,  but  that  he  may  use  them  for 
his  wants  and  comforts,  or  destroy  them  when 
they  annoy  and  injure  him.  The  skins  of  animals 
Irave  been  used  as  clothing  for  thousands  of  years ; 
and  furs  have  become  so  general  in  dresses  and 
ornaments,  that,  to  obtain  them,  a  regular  trade 


;!%! 


,  w^!rr-*i?o>-'P>*" 


rrrrsESSESS 


aiii'»W.'.»"-^»«?.-rgy>^*'''^-  J?- wi'^'wr''- : 


KORTH  AMERICA. 


19 


has  long  been  carried  on.  In  this  traffic,  the  un- 
civilized inhabitants  of  cold  countries  exchange 
their  furs  for  useful  articles  and  comforts  and 
luxuries,  "which  are  only  to  be  obtained  from 
warmer  climes  and  civilized  people. 

Austin.     And  where  do  furs  come  from  ? 

Hunter,  Furs  are  usually  obtained  in  cold 
countries.  The  ermine  and  the  sable  are  procured 
in  the  northern  parts  of  Europe  and  Asia ;  but  most 
of  the  furs  in  use  come  from  the  northern  region 
of  OMr  own  country. 

If  yoi||look  at  the  map  of  North  America, 
will  find  that  between  the  Atlantic  and  the  P^c 
Oceans  the  space  is,  in  its  greatest  breath|  tnore 
than  three  thousand  miles;  and,  from  n(^h  to 
south,  the  country  stretches  out,  to  say  the  Jbast 
of  it,  a  thousand  miles  still  further.  The  princi- 
pal rivers  of  North  America  are  the  Mackenzie, 
Missouri,  Mississippi,  Ohio,  and  St.  Lawrence. 
The  Mississippi  is  between  tkree  and  four  thou- 
sand miles  long.  Our  country  abounds  with  lakes, 
too :  Ontario  and  Winipeg  -are  each  near  two 
hundred  miles  long  ;  Lakes  Huron  and  Erie  are 
between  two  and  three  hundred  ;  Michigan  is  four 
hundred,  and  Lake  Superior  nearly  five  hundred 
miles  long. 

Brian.  What  a  length  for  a  lake !  nearly  five 
hundred  miles !  Why,  it  is  more  like  a  sea  than 
a  lake.  .^^ 

Hunter.  Well,  over  a  great  part  of  the  space 
that  I  have  mentioned,  furry  animals  abound ;  and 
different  fur  companies  send  those  in  their  employ, 
to  boat  up  the  river,  to  sail  through  the  lakes,  to 


\. 


#■: 


p- 


^■' 


^'M. 


20 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


''»f. 


hunt  wild  animals,  to  trap  beavers,  and  to  trade 
with  the  various  Indian  tribes  which  are  scattered 
throughout  this  extensive  territory. 

Austin,  Oh !  how  I  should  like  to  hunt  and 
to  trade  with  the  Indians  !  •V 

Hunter.  Better  think  the  matter  over  a  little 
before  you  set  off  on  such  an  expedition.  Are 
you  ready  to  sail  by  ship,  steam-boat,  and  canoe ; 
to  ride  on  horseback,  or  to  trudge  on  foot,  as  the 
case  may  require ;  to  swim  across  brooks  and 
rivers ;  to  wade  through  bogs,  and  swamps^  and 
quagmires ;  to  live  for  weeks  on  flesh,  without 
bread  or  salt  to  it ;  to  lie  on  the  cold  ground  ;  to 
cook  your  own  food  ;  and  to  mend  your  own 
jacket  and  mocassins  ?  Are  you  ready  to  endure 
hunger  and  thirst,  heat  and  cold,  rain  and  solitude  ? 
Have  you  patience  to  bear  the  stings  of  torment- 
ing mosquitoes ;  and  courage  to  defend  your  life 
against  the  grizzly  bear,  the  buffalo,  and  the  toma- 
hawk of  the  red  man,  should  he  turn  out  to  be 
an  enemy  ?  f 

Brian.  No,  no,  Austin.  You  must  not  think 
of  running  into  such  dangers. 

Hunter.  I  will  now  give  you  a  short  account 
of  the  fur  trade.  About  two  hundred  years  ago, 
or  more,  the  French  made  a  settlement  in  Canada, 
and  they  soon  found  such  advantage  in  obtaining 
the  furry  skins  of  the  various  animals  wandering 
in  the  woods  and  plains  around  them,  that,  after 
taking  all  they  could  themselves,  they  began  to 
trade  with  the  Indians,  the  original  inhabitants  of 
the  country,  who  brought  from  great  distances 
skins  of  various  kinds.     In  a  rude  camp,  formed 


iT' 


7,i- >.-,^,».»,V»- ■ -*-"-' 


il.iiMii|»iii   I 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


21 


of  the  bark  of  trees,  these  red  men  assembled, 
seated  themselves  in  half  circles,  smoked  their 
pipes,  made  speeches,  gave  and  received  presents, 
and  traded  with  the  French  people  for  their  skins. 
The  articles  given  in  exchange  to  the  Indian  hun- 
ters, "were  knives,  axes,  arms,  kettles,  blankets, 
and  cloth :  the  brighter  the  colour  of  the  cloth, 
the  better  the  Indians  were  pleased. 

Austin,     I  think  I  can  see  them  now. 

Basil.  Did  they  smoke  such  pipes  as  we  have 
been  looking  at  ? 

Hunter,  Yes  ;  for  almost  all  the  pipes  used  by 
the  red  men  are  made  of  red  stone,  dug  out  of 
the  same  quarry,  called  pipe-stone  quarry  ;  about 
which  I  will  tell  you  some  other  time.  One  bad 
part  of  this  trading  system  was,  that  the  French 
gave  the  Indians  but  a  small  part  of  the  value  of 
their  skins ;  and  besides  this  they  charged  their  own 
articles  extravagantly  high ;  and  a  ^ill  worse  fea- 
ture in  the  case  was,  that  they  supplied  the  Indians 
with  spirituous  liquors,  and  thus  brought  upon 
them  all  the  evils  and  horrors  of  intemperance. 

This  system  of  obtaining  furs  was  carried  on 
for  many  years,  when  another  practice  sprang  up. 
Such  white  men  as  had  accompanied  the  Indians 
in  hunting,  and  made  themselves  acquainted  with 
the  country,  would  paddle  up  the  rivers  in  canoes, 
with  a  few  arms  and  provisions,  and  hunt  for 
themselves.  They  were  absent  sometimes  for  as 
much  as  a  year,  or  a  year  and  a  half,  and  then 
returned  with  their  canoes  laden  with  rich  furs. 
These  white  men  were  what  I  called  Courem§ 
des  hoiSy  rangers  of  the  woods. 


••;<« 


■'^v 


%.- 


n 


THE  INDIANS  OP 


'  f   ' 


4, 


Austin,  Ah!  I  should  like  to  be  a  coureur 
des  hois. 

Hunter,  Some  of  these  coureurs  des  bois  be- 
came very  lawless  and  depraved  in  their  habits^ 
so  that  the  French  government  enacted  a  law 
whereby  no  one,  on  pain  of  death,  could  trade  in 
the  interior  of  the  country  with  the  Indians,  with- 
out a  license.  Military  posts  were  also  establish- 
ed, to  protect  the  trade.  In  process  of  time,  too, 
fur  companies  were  established ;  and  men,  called 
Voyageurs,  or  canoe  men,  were  employed,  ex- 
pressly to  attend  to  the  canoes  carrying  supplies 
up  the  rivers,  or  bringing  back  cargoes  of  furs. 

Basil.  Now  we  know  what  a  Voyageur  is. 

Hunter.  You  would  hardly  know  me,  were  you 
to  see  me  dressed  as  a  voyageur.  Just  think :  I 
should  have  on  a  striped  cotton  shirt,  cloth  trou- 
sers, a  loose  coat  made  of  a  blanket,  with  perhaps 
leathern  leggins,  and  deer-skin  mocassins ;  and 
then  I  must  not  forget  my  coloured  worsted  belt, 
my  knife  and  tobacco  pouch. 
>  Austin.  What  a  figure  you  would  cut !  And 
yet,  I  dare  say,  such  a  dress  is  best  for  a 
voyageur. 

Hunter.  Most  of  the  Canadian  voyageurs  were 
good-humoured,  light-hearted  men,  who  always 
sang  a  lively  strain  as  they  dipped  their  oars  into 
the  waters  of  the  lake  or  rolling  river ;  but  steam- 
boats are  now  introduced,  so  that  the  voyageurs 
are  but  few. 

Basil.  What  a  pity !    I  like  those  voyageurs. 
.^^^Hunter.  The  voyageurs,  who  were  out  for  a 
long  period,  and  navigated  the  interior  of  the 


.'  .>  -' 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


23 


a  coureur 


country,  were  called  JYorth-men,  or  Winterers; 
while  the  others  had  the  name  of  Goers  and 
Coiners.  Any  part  of  a  river  where  they  could 
not  row  a  laden  canoe,  on  account  of  the  rapid 
stream,  they  called  a  D^charge;  and  there  the 
goods  were  taken  from  the  boats,  and  carried  on 
their  shoulders,  while  others  towed  the  canoes  up 
the  stream :  but  a  fall  of  water,  where  they  were 
obliged  not  only  to  carry  the  goods,  but  also  to 
drag  the  canoes  on  land  up  to  the  higher  level, 
they  called  a  Portage, 

Austin.  We  shall  not  forget  the  North-men, 
and  Comers  and  Goers,  nor  tlffe  D6charges  and 
Portages. 

Basil.  You  have  not  told  us  what  a  Trapper  is. 

Hunter.  A  Trapper  is  a  beaver  hunter.  Those 
who  hunt  beavers  and  other  animals,  for  any  of 
the  fur  companies,  are  called  Trappers ;  but  such 
as  hunt  for  themselves  take  the  namfe  of  Freemen. 

Austin.  Yes,  I  shall  remember.  Please  to  tell 
us  how  they  hunt  the  beavers. 

Hunter.  Beavers  build  themselves  houses  on 
the  banks  of  creeks  or  small  rivers,  w^ith  mud, 
sticks,  and  stones,  and  afterwards  <;over  them 
over  with  a  coat  of  >|^,  which  becomes  very 
hard.  These  houses  are^five  or  six  feet  thick  at 
the  top  ;  and  in  one  house  four  old  beavers,  and 
six  or  eight  young  ones,  often  live  together.  But, 
besides  their  houses,  the  beavers  take  care  to  have 
a  number  of  holes  in  the  banks,  tinder  watef, 
called  washes^  into  which  they  can  ru4  ^JsJidtcr,. 
should  their  houses  be  attacked.  It|»  tifte  busip^- 
ness  of  the  trappers  to  find  out  all  these  tfldn^f 


/■ 


'..-■■■*. 


'±' 


m 


:»;. 
■* 


'^l: 


If 


24 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


ti 


Hi 


|i 


or  holes ;  and  this  they  do  in  winter,  by  knocking 
against  the  ice,  and  judging  by  the  sound  whether 
it  is  a  hole.  Over  every  hole  they  cut  out  a 
piece  of  ice,  big  enough  to  get  at  the  beaver. 
No  sooner  is  the  beaver-house  attacked,  than  the 


.,*• 


>"7--r 


animals  run  into  their  holes,  the  entrances  of 
•  "which  are  directly  blocked  up  with  stakes.  The 
tjrappers  then  either  take  them  through  the  holes 
with  their  hands,  or  haul  them  out  with  hooks 
fastened  to  the  en^  of  a  pole  or  stick. 

Austin.  But  wly  is  a  beaver  hunter  called  a 
trapper?    T cannot  understand  that. 

Hunter.  Because  beavers  are  caught  in  great 
numbers  in  steel  traps,  which  are  set  and  baited 
on  purpose  for  them. 

Brian.  Why  do  they  not  catch  them  in  the 
summer? 

Hunter,  The  fur  of  the  beaver  is  in  its  prime 
lonjji  the  winter;  in  the  summer,  it»^,j)f  inferior 


#t3 


\ 


i 


■^1 


NORTH  ABIE&ICA, 


^6 


^r: 


Austin,  Do  the  trappers  catch  many  beavers  ? 
I  should  think  there  could  not  be  very  many  of 
them. 

Hunter,  In  one  year,  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany alone  sold  as  many  as  sixty  thousand  bea- 
ver-skins; and  it  is  not  a  very  easy  matter  to 
tak«  them,  I  can  assure  you. 

Austin,  Sixty  thousand !  I  did  not  think  there 
were  so  many  beavers  in  the  world. 

Hunter,  I  will  tell  you  an  anecdote,  by  ^^?hich 
you  will  see  that  hunters  and  trappers  have  Aeed 
to  be  men  of  courage  and  activity.  A  trapper,  of 
the  name  of  Cannon,  had  just  had  the  good  for- 
tune to  kill  a  buffalo ;  and,  as  he  was  at  a  con- 
siderable distance  from  his  camp,  he  cut  out  the 
tongue  and  some  of  the  choice  bits,  made  them 
into  a  parcel,  and  slinging  them  on  his  shoulders 
by  a  strap  passed  round  his  forehead,  as  the 
voyageurs  carry  packages  of  goods,  set  out  on 
his  way  to  the  camp.  In  passing  through  a  nar- 
row ravine,  he  heard  a  noise  behind  him,  and 
looking  round,  beheld,  to  his  ^dismay,  a  grizzly 
bear  in  full  pursuit,  apparently'^  attracted  by  the 
scent  of  the  meat.  Cannon  had  heard  so  much 
of  the  strength  and  ferocity  of  this  fierce  animal, 
that  he  never  attempted  to  fire,  but  slipping  the 
strap  from  his  forehead,  let  go  the  buffalo  meat, 
and  ran  for  his  life.  The  bear  did  not  stop  to  re- 
gale himself  with  the  game,  but  kept  on  after  the 
hunter.  He  had  nearly  overtaken  him,  when 
Cannon  reac^j^  a  tree,  and  throwing  down  his 
rifle,  climbed  !(  into  it.  The  next  instant  Bruin 
was  at  the  foot  of  the  tree,  but  as  this  species  of 

3 


V^ 


'*'"      f'.PJTf." " 


"'ISt 


"ijr-" 


26 


THE  INDIANS   OF 


bear  does  not  climb,  he  contented  himself  with 

turning  the  chase  into  a  blockade.     Night  came 

on.     In  the  darkness,  Cannon  could  not  perceive 

t  "whether  or  not  the  enemy  maintained  his  station ; 

but  his  fears  pictured  him  rigorously  mounting 

guard.     He  passed   the  night,  therefore,  in  the 

tree,  a  prey  to  dismal  fancies.     In  the  meaning 

J     the  bear  was  gone.     Caiftion  warily  descended 

i     the  tree,  picked  up  his  gun,  and  made  the  best 

of  his  way  back  to  the  camp,  without  venturing 

to  look  after  his  buffalo-meat. 

Austin.  Then  the  grizzly  bear  did  not  hurt 
„  him,  after  all. 

Brian.  1  would  not  go  among  those  grizzly 
bears  for  all  in  the  world. 

Austin.  Do  the  hunters  take  deer  as  well  as 
other  animals  ? 
*  Cs  t  Hunter.  Deer,  though  their  skins  are  not  so 
valuable  as  many  furs,  are  very  useful  to  hunters 
and  trappers ;  for  they  not  only  add  to  their  stock 
of   peltries,   but   also   supply   them  with   food. 
When  skins  have  been  tanned  on  the  inside,  they 
-are  called  furs;   but,  before  they  are  tanned, 
they  are  called  peltries.     Deer  are  trapped  much 
in  the  same  way  as  buffaloes  are.     A  large  circle 
is  enclosed  with  twisted  trees  and  brushwood, 
with  a  very  narrow  opening,  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  a  well-frequented  deei  path.     The  inside  of 
the  circle  is  crowded  with  small  hedges,  in  the 
openings  of   which   are  set  snares   of   twisted 
thongs,  made  fast  at  one  end  to  a  neighbouring 
^?  tree.     Two  lines  of  small  trees  areset  up,  branch- 
ing off*  outwardly  from  the  narrow  entrance  of  the 

-.      :  .  .  .     .    f 


y''^Yj 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


27 


circle ;  so  that  the  further  the  lines  of  trees  extend 
from  the  circle,  the  wider  is  the  space  between 
them.  As  soon  as  the  deer  are  seen  moving  in 
the  direction  of  the  circle,  the  hunters,  get  behind 
them,  and  urge  them  on  by  loud  shouts.  The 
deer,  mistaking  the  lines  of  trees  set  up  ,for  ene- 
mies, fly  straight  forward,  till  they  enter  the  snare 
prepared  for  them.  The  circle  is  then  surrounded, 
to  prevent  their  quitting  it,  while  some  of  the 
hunters  go  into  it,  blocking  up  the  entrance,  and 
kill  the  deer  with  their  bows  and  arrows,  and 
their  spears. 

Basil.  I  am  sorry  for  the  poor  deer. 

Brian,  And  so  am  I,  Basil. 

Hunter,  Hunters  are  often  obliged  to  leave  food 
in  particular  places,  in  case  they  should  be  desti- 
tute on  their  return  that  way.  They  sometimes, 
too,  leave  property  behind  them,  and  for  this  pur- 
pose they  form  a  cache, 

Austin.  What  is  a  cacAe?  .;s 

Hunter.  A  cache  is  a  hole,  or  place  of  conceal- 
ment ;  and  when  any  thing  is  put  in  it,  great  care 
is  required  to  conceal  it  from  enemies,  and  indeed 
from  wild  animals,  such  as  wolves  and  bears. 

Austin.  Well !  but  if  they  dig  a  deep  hole,  and 
put  the  things  in  it,  hftw  could  anybody  find  it  ? 
A  wolf  and  a  bear  would  never  find  it  out. 

Hunter.  Perhaps  not ;  unless  they  should 
smell  it. 

Austin.  Ay !  I  forgot  that.  I  must  understand 
a  little  more  of  my  business  before  I  set  up  for  a 
hunter,  or  a  trapper;  but  please  to  tell  us  all 
about  a  cache. 


*" 


) nil) Ml  m 


\v!-  • 


m  I 

i 


' 


^•28 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


% 


I    I 


;? 


Hunter,  A  cache  is  usually  dug  near  a  stream, 
that  the  earth  taken  out  of  the  hole  may  be  thrown 
into  the  running  water,  otherwise  it  would  tell 
tales.  Then  the  hunters  spread  blankets,  or  what 
clothes  they  have,  over  the  surrounding  ground, 
to  prevent  the  marks  of  their  feet  being  seen. 
When  they  have  dug  the  hole  they  line  it  with 
diy  grass,  and  sticks,  and  bark,  and  sometimes 
"With  a  dry  skin.  After  the  things  to  be  hidden 
are  put  in,  they  are  covered  with  another  dry 
skin,  and  the  hole  is  filled  up  with  grass,  stones, 
and  sticks,  and  trodden  down  hard,  to  prevent  the 
^op  from  sinking  afterwards :  the  place  is  sprinkled 
with  water  to  take  away  the  scent ;  and  the  turf, 
which  was  first  cut  away,  before  the  hole  was  dug, 
is  laid  down  with  care,  just  as  it  was  before  it 
was  touched.  They  then  take  up  their  blankets 
and/Clothes,  and  leave  the  cache,  putting  a  mark 
at  ^me  distance,  that  when  they  come  again  they 
may  know  where  to  find  it. 

Mustin,  Capital !  I  could  make  a  cache  now, 
that  neither  bear,  nor  wolf,  nor  Indian  could  find. 

Brian,  But  if  the  bear  did  not  find  the  cache,, 
he  might  find  you ;  and  then  what  would  become 
of  you  ? 

Austin.  Why  I  would  *climb  a  tree,  as  Can- 
non did. 

Hunter,  Most  of  the  furs  that  are  taken  find  their 
way  to  London ;  but  every  year  the  animals  which 
produce  them  become  fewer.  Besides  the  skins  of 
larger  animals,  the  furs  of  a  great  number  of 
smaller  creatures  are  valuable  ;  and  these,  vary- 
ing in  their  habits,  require  to  be  taken  in  a  different 


.•.^5> 


«i 


NORTH  AMERICA, 


29 


manner.  The  bison  is  found  on  the  prairies,  or 
plains ;  the  beaver,  on  creeks  and  rivers ;  the 
badger,  the  fox,  and  the  rabbit,  burrow  in  the 
ground ;  and  the  bear,  the  deer,  the  mink,  the 
martin,  the  raccoon,  the  lynx,  the  hare,  the  musk- 
rat,  the  squirrel,  and  ermine,  are  all  to  be  found 
in  the  woods.  In  pa4dling  up  the  rivers  in 
canoes,  and  in  roaming  through  the  woods  and 
prairies,  in  search  of  these  animals,  I  have  mingled 
much  with  Indians  of  different  tribes ;  and  if  you 
can,  now  and  then,  make  a  call  on  me,  you  will 
perhaps  be  entertained  in  hearing  what  I  can  tell 
you  about  them.  The  Indians  should  be  regarded 
by  us  as  brothers.  We  ought  to  feel  interested  in 
their  welfare  here,  and  in  their  happiness  here- 
after. The  fact  that  \ye  are  living  on  lands  once 
the  residence  of  these  roaming  tribes,  and  that  they 
have  been  driven  far  into  the  wilderness  to  make 
room  for  us,  should  lead  us  not  only  to  feel  sym- 
pathy for  the  poor  Indians,  but  to  make  decided 
efforts  for  their  improvement.  Our  missionary 
societies  are  aiming*  at  this  great  object,  but  far 
greater  efforts  are  necessary.  We  have  the  word 
of  God,  and  Christian  Sabbaths,  and  Christian 
ministers,  and  religious  ordinances,  in  abundance, 
to  direct  and  comfort  us ;  but  they  are  but  scantily 
supplied  with  these  advantages.  Let  us  not  for- 
get to  ask  in  our  prayers,  that  the  Father  of 
mercies  may  make  known  his  mercy  to  them, 
opening  their  eyes,  and  influencing  their  hearts, 
so  that  they  may  become  true  servants  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

The  delight  visible  in  the  sparkling  eyes  of  the 


* 


* 


f 


M 


.■:'^-^ 


.  JlfMi  '■' mti\i  -|-      •—  - 


1  ,m 


.  ¥ 


r 


Hi 


M^ 


;*. 


I 


-t- 


•'^.■- 


'«-      >' 


.■fiV 


30 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


young  people,  as  they  took  their  leave,  spoke 
their  thanks.  On  their  way  home,  they  talked 
of  nothing  else  but  fur  companies,  lakes,  rivers, 
prairies,  and  rocky  mountains ;  buffaloes,  wolves, 
Dears,  and  beavers  ;  and  it  was  quite  as  much  as 
Brian  and  Basil  could  do,  to  persuade  their  brother 
Austin  from  making  up  his  mind  at  once  to  be  a 
voyageur,  a  coureur  des  bois,  or  a  trapper.  The 
more  they  were  against  it,  so  much  the  more  his 
heart  seemed  set  upon  the  enterprise ;  and  the 
wilder  they  made  the  buifaloes  that  would  attack 
him,' and  the  bears  and  wolves  that  would  tear 
him  to  pieces,  the  bolder  and  more  courageous 
he  became.  However,  though  on  this  point  they 
could  not  agree,  they  were  all  unanimous  in  their 
determination  to  mdke  another  visit  the  first  op- 
portunity. 


»*JT^- 


^Aa 


•^ 


4 


Vif 


Indian  Cloak. 


i>  '      ■ ,  K 


NORTH  AMEKICA. 


'^■v 


31 


Chiefs  of  different  Tribes. 


CHAPTER  m. 

■  '■     r  ■■   ., 
*  .  -  '"'"    ■■J.' 

The  next  time  the  three  brothers  did  not  go 
to  the  red  sand-stone  rock,  but  the  adventure 
which  took  place  there  formed  a  part  of  their  con- 
versation. They  found  the  hunter  at  home,  and, 
feeling  now  on  very  friendly  and  familiar  terms 
with  him,  they  entered  at  once  on  the  subject 
that  was  nearest  their  hearts.  "  Tell  us,  if  you 
please,"  said  Austin,  as  soon  as  they  were  seated, 
"  about  the  very  beginning  of  the  red  men." 

"  You  are  asking  me  to  do  that,"  replied  the 
hunter,  "  which  is  much  more  difficult  than  you 
suppose.  To  account  for  the  existence  of  the 
original  inhabitants,  and  of  the  various  tribes 
of  Indians  which  are  now  scattered  throughout 
the  whole  of  North  America,  has  puzzled  ^e 


■■%■ 


*>■;,■ 


« 


■- » 


32 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


'*»■ 


heads  of  the  wisest  men  for  ages ;  and,  even  at  the 
present  day,  though  travellers  have  endeavoured 
to  throw  hght  on  this  subject,  it  still  remains  a 
mystery. 

Austin.  But  what  is  it  that  is  so  mysterious? 
What  is  it  that  wise  men  and  travellers  cannot 
make  out  ? 

Hunter,  They  cannot  make  out  how  it  is,  that  the 
whole  of  America — taking  in,  as  it  does,  some  parts 
which  are  almost  always  covered  with  snow,  and 
other  parts  that  are  as  hot  as  the  sun  can  make  them — 
should  be  peopled  with  a  class  of  human  beings 
distinct  from  all  others  in  the  world — red  men, 
who  have  black  hair,  and  no  beards.  If  you  re- 
member, it  is  said,  in  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis, 
"  So  God  created  man  in  his  own  image,  in  the 
image  of  God  created  he  him ;  male  and  female 
created  he  them."  And,  in  the  second  chapter, 
'*  And  the  Lord  God  planted  a  garden  eastward 
in  Eden  ;  and  there  he  put  the  man  whom  he 
had  formed."  Now,  it  is  known,  by  the  names 
of  the  rivers  which  are  mentioned  in  the  chapter, 
that  the  garden  of  Eden  was  in  Asia  ;  so  that  you 
see  our  first  parents,  whence  the  whole  of  man- 
kind have  sprung,  dwelt  in  Asia. 

Austin.  Yes,  that  is  quite  plain. 

Wmter.  Well,  then,  you  recollect,  I  dare  say, 
that  when  the  world  was  drowned,  all  mankind 
were  destroyed,  except  Noah  and  his  family  in 
the  ark. 

Brian.  Yes ;  we  recollect  that  very  well. 

Hunter.  And  when  the  ark  rested,  it  rested  on 
Mount  Ararat,  which  is  in  Asia  also.     If  you 


* .... 


KORTH  AMERICA. 


33 


emains  a 


look  on  the  map  of  the  world,  you  will  see  that 
the  three  continents,  Europe,  Asia,  and  Africa, 
are  united  together;  but  America  stands  by  it- 
self, with  an  ocean  rolling  on  each  side  of  it, 
thousands  of  miles  broad.  It  is  easy  to  suppose 
that  mankind  would  spread  over  the  continents 
that  are  close  together,  but  difficult  to  account  for 
their  passing  over  the  ocean,  at  a  time  when  the 
arts  of  ship-building  and  navigation  were  so  little 
understood. 

Austin,  They  must  have  gone  in  a  ship,  that 
is  certain.  ^gp 

Hunter.  But  suppose  they  did,  how  came  it 
about  that  they  should  be  so  very  different  from 
all  other  men?  America  was  only  discovered 
about  four  hundred  years  a§o,  and  then  it  was  well 
peopled  with  red  men.  Besides,  there  have  been 
discovered  throughout  our  country,  monuments, 
ruins,  and  sites  of  ancient  towns,  with  thousands 
of  enclosures  and  fortifications.  Articles,  too,  of 
pottery,  sculpture,  glass,  and  copper,  have  been 
found  at  times,  sixty  or  eighty  feet  under  the 
ground,  and,  in  some  instances,  w^ith  forests 
growing  over  them,  so  that  they  must  have  been 
very  ancient.  The  people  who  built  these  fortifi- 
cations and  towers,  and  possessed  these  articles 
in  pottery,  sculpture,  glass,  and  copper,  lived  at 
a  remote  period,  and  must  have  been,  to  a  con- 
siderable degree,  cultivated.  Who  these  people 
'v/ere,  and  how  they  came  to  America,  no  one 
knows,  though  many  have  expressed  their  opi- 
nions. But,  even  if  we  did  know  who  they 
were,  how  could  we  account  for  the  present  race 


-^ 


f 


■-♦ 


f^' 


0 


^ 


I: 


34 


\ 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


of  Indians  in  North  America  being  barbarous, 
when  their  ancestors  were  so  highly  civilized? 
These  are  difficulties  which,  as  I  said,  have  puz- 
zled the  wisest  heads  for  ages. 

Austin.  What  do  wise  men  and  travellers  say 
about  these  things  ?  ^ 

Hunter.  Some  think,  that  as  the  frozen  regions 
of  Asia,  in  one  part,  are  so  near  the  frozen  regions 
of  North  America — it  being  only  about  forty  miles 
across  Behrings'  Straits — some  persons  from  Asia 
might  have  crossed  over  there,  and  peopled  the 
country  ;  or  that  North  America  might  have  once 
been  joined  to  Asia,  though  it  is  not  so  now  ;  or 
tl|at,  in  ancient  times,  some  persons  might  have 
drifted,  or  been  blown  there  by  accident,  in  boats 
or  ships,  across  the  tvide  ocean.  Some  think 
these  people  might  have  been  Phenicians,  Car- 
thagenians,  Hebrews,  or  Egyptians ;  while  another 
class  of  reasoners  suppose  them  to  have  been 
Hindoos,  Chinese,  Tartars,  Malays,  or  others.  It 
seems,  however,  to  be  God's  will  often  to  humble 
the  pride  of  his  creatures,  by  baffling  their  con- 
jectures, and  hedging  up  their  opinions  with 
difficulties.  His  way  is  in  the  sea,  and  his  path 
in  the  great  waters,  and  his  footsteps  are  not 
known.  He  "  maketh  the  earth  empty,  aiifd 
maketh  it  waste,  and  turneth  it  upside  down,  and 
scattereth  abroad  the  inhabitants  thereof." 

Austin.  Well,  if  you   cannot  tell   us   of  thk, 
Indians  in  former  times,  you  can  tell  us  of  the^ 
Indians  that  there  are,  for  that  will  be  a  great 
deal  better. 


% 


# 


% 


%iS' 


^  * 


::'<^-  .  ■ 


■1^ 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


35 


arbarous, 
jivilizcd  ? 
ave  puz- 

ellers  say 

n  regions 
in  regions 
brty  miles 
from  Asia 
opled  the 
lave  once 
>  now ;  or 
ight  have 
t,  in  boats 
me  think 
Jans,  Car- 
le another 
ave  been 
thers.  It 
o  humble 

leir  con- 
Ions  with 

his  path 
are  not 
ty,  aiifd 

)wn,  and 

of  tha/ 
Is  of  the= 
a  great 


Brian.  Yes,  that  it  will. 

Hunter.  You  must  bear  in  mind,  that  some 
years  have  passed  since  I  was  hunting  and  trap- 
ping in  the  woods  and  prairies,  and  that  many 
changes  have  taken  place  since  then  among  the 
Indians.  Some  have  been  tomahawked  by  the 
hands  of  the  stronger  tribes ;  some  have  given  up 
their  lands  to  the  whites,  and  retired  to  the  west 
of  the  Mississippi ;  and  thousands  have  been  car- 
ried off  by  disease,  which  has  made  sad  havoc 
among  them.  I  must,  therefore,  speak  Of  them 
as  they  were.  Some  of  the  tribes,  since  I  left 
them,  have  been  utterly  destroyed  ;  not  one  living 
creature  among  them  being  left  to  speak  of  tho^^e 
who  have  gone  before  them.  * 

Austin.  What  a  pity !  They  want  some  good 
doctors  among  them,  and  then  diseases  would  not 
carry  them  off  in  that  way. 

Hunter.  I  will  not  pretend  to  give  you  an  exact 
account  of  the  number  of  the  different  tribes,  or 
the  particular  places  they  now  occupy  ;  for  though 
my  information  may  be  generally  right,  yet  the 
changes  which  have  taken  place  are  many. 

Austin.  Please  to  tell  us  what  you  remember, 
and  what  you  know ;  and  that  will  quite  satisfy  us. 

Hunter.  A  traveller*  among  the  Indian  tribes 
has  published  a  book  called  *f  Letters  and  Notes 
on  the  Manners,  Customs,  and  Condition  of  the 
North  American  Indians ;"  and  a  most  interesting 
and  entertaining  account  it  is.  If  ever  you  can 
lay  hold  of  it,  it  will  afford  you  great  amusement. 


Pif^'v-' 


'■t*. 


*Mr.  Catlin. 


*i-  'm» 


m 


AJl 


36 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


1%   ii 


Perhaps  no  triRn  who  lias  written  on  the  Indians 
has  seen  so  much  of  them  as  he  has. 

Brian,  Did  you  ever  meet  Catiin  ? 

Hunter.  O  yes,  many  times ;  anti  a  most  agree- 
able companion  I  found  him.  He  has  lectured 
in  most  of  our  cities,  and  shown  the  beautiful 
collection  of  Indian  dresses  and  curiosities  col- 
lected (luring  his  visits  to  the  remotest  tribes. 
If  you  can  get  a  sight  of  his  book,  you  will  soon 
see  that  he  is  a  man  of  much  knowledge,  and 
possessing  great  courage,  energy,  and  perse- 
verance. I  will  now,  then,  begin  my  narrative  ; 
and  if  you  can  find  pleasure  in  hearing  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  Indians,  with  their  villages,  wigwams, 
"warwhoops,  and  warriors;  their  manners,  customs, 
and  superstitions ;  their  dress,  ornaments,  and 
arms ;  their  mysteries,  games,  huntings,  dances, 
war-councils,  speeches,  battles,  and  burials ;  witii 
a  fair  sprinkling  of  prairie  dogs,  and  wild  horses ; 
wolves,  beavers,  grizzly  bears,  and  mad  buffa- 
loes ;  I  will  do  my  best  to  give  you  gratification. 

•Austin,  These  are  the  very  things  that  we  want 
to  know. 

Hunter.  I  shall  not  forget  to  tell  you  what  the 
missionaries  have  done  among  the  Indians ;  but 
that  must  be  towards  the  latter  end  of  my  account. 
Let  me  first  show  you  a  complete  table  of  the 
number  and  names  of  the  tribes.  It  is  in  the  Re- 
port made  to  Congress  by  the  Commissioners  of 
Indian  Affairs  for  1843-4. 


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NORTH  amrhica. 


37 


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NORTH    AMERICA. 


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THE  INDIANS  OF 


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Is 

Hunter.  And  now,  place  before  you  a  map  of 
North  America.  See  how  it  stretches  out  north 
and  south  from  Baffin's  Bay  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexi- 
co, and  east  and  west  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific  Ocean.  What  a  wonderful  work  of  the 
Almighty  is  the  rolling  deep !  "  The  sea  is  His, 
and  he  made  it :  and  his  hands  formed  the  dry 
land."  Here  are  the  great  Lakes  Superior,  Michi- 
gan, Huron,  Erie,  and  Ontario ;  and  here  run  the 
mighty  rivers,  the  Mississippi,  the  Missouri,  the 
Ohio,  and  the  St.  Lawrence :  the  Mississippi 
itself  is  between  three  and  four  thousand  miles 
long.  ^-,  ^ 

Basil.  What  a  river !  Please  to  tell  us  what 
are  all  those  little  hills  running  along  there,  one 
above  another,  from  top  to  bottom. 

Hunter.  They  are  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Some 
regard  them  as  a  continuation  of  the  Andes  of 
South  America ;  so  that,  if  both  are  put  together, 
they  will  make  a  chain  of  mountains  little  short 
of  nine  thousand  miles  long.  North  America^ 
with  its  mighty  lakes,  rivers,  and  mountains,  its 
extended  valleys  and  prairies,  its  bluffs,  caverns, 
and  cataracts,  and,  more  than  all,  its  Indian  in- 
habitants, beavers,  buffaloes,  and  bisOns,  will 
afford  us  something  to  talk  of  for  some  time  to 
come ;  but  the  moment  you  are  tired  of  my  ac- 
count, we  will  stop. 

Austin.  We  shall  never  be  tired;  no,  not  if 
you  go  on  telling  us  something  every  time  we 
come,  for  a  whole  year.  But  do  tell  us,  how  did 
these  tribes  behave  to  you,  when  you  were  among 
them?  •^  i 


''% 


S< 


42 


THE  INDIANS   OF 


Hunter,  I  have  not  a  word  of  complaint  to 
make.  The  Indians  have  been  represented  as 
treacherous,  dishonest,  reserved,  and  sour  in  their 
disposition  ;  but,  instead  of  this,  I  have  found 
them  generally,  though  not  in  all  cases,  frank,  up- 
right, hospitable,  light-hearted,  and  friendly. 
Those  who  have  seen  Indians  smarting  under 
wrongs,  and  deprived,  by  deceit  and  force,  of 
their  lands,  hunting-grounds,  and  the  graves  of 
their  fathers,  may  have  found  them  otherwise : 
and  no  wonder ;  the  worm  that  is  trodden  on  will 
writhe;  and  man,  unrestrained  by  Divine  grace, 
when  treated  with  injustice  and  cruelty,  will  turn 
on  his  oppressor. 

Austin.     Say  what  you  will,  I  like  the  Indians. 

Hunter,  That  there  is  much  of  evil  among 
i^ndians  is  certain  ;  much  of  ignorance,  unrestrain- 
ed, passions,  cruelty,  and  revenge  :  but  they  have 
been  misrepresented  in  many  things.  I  had  bet- 
ter tell  you  the  names  of  some  of  the  chiefs  of  the 
jlibes,  or  of  some  of  the  most  remarkable  men 
?mong  them. 

Austin,  Yes  ;  you  cannot  do  better.  Tell  us 
the  names  of  all  the  chiefs,  and  the  warriors,  and 
the  conjurors,  and  all  about  them. 

Hunter,  The  Blackfeet  Indians  are  a  very  war- 
like people ;  Stu-mick-o-sticlcs  was  the  name  of 
their  chief. 

Austin,  Stu-mick-o-s(icks !  What  a  name !  Is 
there  any  meaning  in  it  ? 

Hunter,  O  yes.  It  means,  ^'*  the  back  fat  of 
the  buffalo ;"  and  if  you  had  seen  him  and^lPe^- 
to'pe-IdsSy  "  the  ribs  of  the  eagle,"  another  chief, 


^,-. 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


43 


dressed  up  in  their  splendid  mantles,  buffaloes' 
horns,  ermine  tails,  and  scalp  locks,  you  would 
not  soon  have  turned  your  eyes  from  them. 

Brian,  Who  would  ever  be  called  by  such  a 
name  as  that  ?     The  back  fat  of  the  buffalo  ! 

Hunter.  The  Camanchees  are  famous  on  horse- 
back. There  is  no  tribe  among  the  Indians  that 
can  come  up  to  them,  to  my  mind,  in  the  manage- 
ment of  a  horse,  and  the  use  of  the  lance  :  they 
are  capital  hunters.  The  name  of  their  chief  is 
E6-shah'k6-nee,  or  "  the  bow  and  quiver."  I 
hardly  ever  saw  a  larger  man  among  the  Indians 
than  Ta-wdh-que-nah^  the  second  chief  in  power. 
Ta-wdh-que-nah  means  "  the  mountain  of  rock?," 
a  very  fit  name  for  a  huge  Indian  living  near  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  When  I  saw  Kots-o-ko-ro-ko, 
or  "  the  hair  of  the  bull's  neck,"  (who  is,  if  I  re- 
member right,  the  third  chief,)  he  had  a  gun  in 
his  right  hand,  and  his  warlike  shield  on  his  left 
arm. 

Austin.  If  I  go  among  the  Indians,  I  shall 
stay  a  long  time  with  the  Camanchees ;  and  then 
I  shall,  perhaps,  become  one  of  the  most  skilful 
horsemen,  and  one  of  the  best  hunters  in  the 
world.  ^ 

Brian.  And  suppose  you  get  thrown  off*  your 
horse,  or  killed  in  hunting  buffaloes,  what  shall 
you  say  to  it  then? 

Austin.  Oh,  very  little,  if  I  get  killed  ;  but 
no  fear  of  that.  I  shall  mind  what  I  am  about. 
Tell  us  who  is  the  head  of  the  Sioux?  ■•v  • 

Hunter.  When  I  was  at  the  upper  waters  of 
the  Missiissippi  and  Missouri  rivers,  Ha-w6n-je- 


«'» 


THE  INDIANS   OF 


tah^  or  *'  the  one  horn,"  was  chief;  but  since  then, 
being  out  among  the  buffaloes,  a  buffalo  bull  at- 
tacked and  killed  him. 

Basil.  There,  Austin  !  If  an  Indian  chief  was 
killed  by  a  buffalo,  what  should  you  do  among 
them?  Why  they  would  toss  you  over  their 
heads  like  a  shuttlecock. 

^*  Hunter.  Wee-td-ra-sha-ro,  the  head  chief  of 
the  Pawnee  Picts,  is  dead  now,  I  dare  say ;  for 
he  was  a  very  old,  as  well  as  a  very  venerable 
looking  man.  Many  a  buffalo  hunt  with  the  Ca- 
manchees  had  he  in  his  day,  and  many  a  time  did 
he  go  forth  with  them  in  their  war-parties.  He 
had  a  celebrated  brave  of  the  name  of  AhJ-sho- 
cole,  or  "  rotten  foot,"  and  another  called  M-re- 
kah-na-co'Chee,  "  the  mad  elk."  Indians  give  the 
name  of  brave  to  a  warrior  who  has  distinguished 
himself  by  feats  of  valour,  such  as  admit  him  to 
their  rank. 

Brian.  I  wonder  that  they  should  choose 
such  long  names.  It  must  be  a  hard  matter  to  re- 
member them. 

Hunter.     There  were  many  famous  men  among 
the  Sacs.     Kee-o-lcak  was  the  G|ief.     Kee-o-kuk 
means  "the  running  fox."     One  of  his  boldest 
braves    was    Ma-ka-tai-TnJershe-kl&-H&k,    "  the 
black   hawk."     The  history  of  this   renowned 
warrior  is  very  curious,    ii'was  taken  down  from 
his  own  lips,  and  has  been  published.     If  you    - 
should  like  to  listen  to  the  adventures  of  Black  ^ 
Hawk,  I  will  relate  them  to  you  some  day,  when 
you  have  time  to  hear  them,  as  T^ell  as  those  of    ; 
young  Nik-ka-no-chee,  a  Seminole. 


\ 


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NORTH  AMERICA. 

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« 


Austin.  We  will  not  forget  to  remind  you  of 
your  promise.  It  will  be  capital  to  listen  to  these 
histories. 

Hunter.  When  I  saw  Wa-sdw-me'SaWj  or  "  the 
roaring  thunder,"  the  youngest  son  of  Black 
Hawk,  he  was  in  captivity.  JVdh-se-iis-kukf  "  the 
whirling  thunder,"  his  eldest  son,  was  a  fine  look- 
ing man,  beautifully  formed,  wdth  a  spirit  like  that 
of  a  lion.  There  was  a  war  called  The  Black 
Hawk  war,  and  Black  Hawk  was  the  leader  and  * 
conductor  of  it ;  and  one  of  his  most  famous  war- 
riors w2iS  Wah-pe-k^e-suck,  or  "  white  cloud  ;"  he 
was,  however,  as  often  called  The  Prophet  as  the 
White  Cloud.  Pam-a-ho,  "  the  swimmer ;"  Wah- 
pa-ko'lds-kuk, "  the  track  of  the  bear ;"  and  Pash' 
ce-pa-ho, "  the  little  stabbing  chief ;"  were,  I  think, 
all  three  of  them  warriors  of  Black  Hawk. 

Basil,  The  Little  Stabbing  Chief!  H^  must 
be  a  very  dangerous  fellow  to  go  near,  if  we*  may 
judge  by  his  name  :  keep  away  from  him,  Austin, 
if  you  go  to  the  Sacs. 

Austin.     Oh !  he  wo^ld  never  think  of  stab- 
bing me.     I  should  behave  well  to  all  the  tribes, 
and  then  I  dare  say  they  would  all  of  them  be- 
have well  to  me.    You  have  not  said  any  thing  of* 
the  Crow  Indians. 

Hunter.  I  forget  who  was  at  the  head  of  the 
Crows,  though  I  well  remember  several  of  the 
warriors  among  tRem.  They  were  tall,  well-pro- 
pqrtioned,  and  dressed  with  a  great  deal  of  taste 
and  care.  Pa-ris-ka^roc-pa,  called  "  the  two 
crows,"  had  a  head  of  hair  that  swept  the  ground 
after  hira  as  he  walked  along.  ',r  * 


?*'« 


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THE  INDIANS  OP 


Austin,  What  do  you  think  of  that,  Basil? 
No  doubt  the  Crows  are  fine  fellows.  Please  to 
mentions  two  or  three  more. 

Hunter,  Let  me  see ;  there  was  Ei-hee-a-duck' 
chee'Uy  or  "  he  who  binds  his  hair  before ;"  and 
Ho-ra-to-ahy  "a  warrior;"  and  Chah-ee-chopeSj 
**  the  four  wolves ;"  the  hair  of  these  was  as  long 
as  that  of  Pa-ris-ka-ro&-pa.  Though  they  were 
very  tall,  E6-he6-a-duck-ch6e-a  being  at  least  six 
feet  high,  the  hair  of  each  of  them  reached  and 
rested  on  the  ground. 

Austin,  When  I  go  among  the  Indians,  the 
Crows  shall  not  be  forgotten  by  me.  I  shall  have 
plenty  to  tell  you  of,  Brian,  when  I  come  back. 

Brian.  Yes,  if  you  ever  do  come  back ;  but 
what  with  the  sea,  and  the  rivers,  and  the  swamps, 
and  the  bears,  and  the  buffaloes,  you  are  sure  to 
get  killed.  You  will  never  tell  us  about  the 
Crows,  or  about  any  thing  else. 

Hunter.  There  was  one  of  the  Crows  called 
The  Red  Bear,  or  Duhk-pits-o-hd-shee, 

Bnan.  Duhk-pitch  a' — Duck  pits — I  cannot 
pronounce  the  word — why  that  is  worse  to  speak 
than  any. 

Austin.  Hear  me  pronounce  it  then :  Buhk-pits^ 
O'hoot-shee,  No  j  that  is  not  quite  right,  but  very 
near  it. 

Basil,  You  must  not  go  amoijg  the  Crows  yet, 
Austin  ;  you  cannot  talk  well  enough.  • 

Hunter,  Oh,  there  are  much  harder  names 
among  some  of  the  tribes  than  those  I  have  men- 
tioned ;  for  instance  there  is  Au-nah-lcwet-to-hau- 
pdy-Oy  "the  one   sitting  in  the   clouds;"   and 


.  h 


f " 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


47 


I 


En'tohk-pay-she-pe&shahy  "  the  black  mocassin ;" 
and  Kay-ee-qua'da-kum'^e-gishrkum,  "he  who 
tries  the  ground  with  his  foot ;"  and  Mah-tohrah- 
rish-nee-eeh-Se-rahy  "the  grizzly  bear  that  runs 
without  fear."  < 

Brian.  Why  these  names  are  as  long  as  from 
here  to  yonder.  Set  to  work,  Austin !  set  to  work ! 
For,  if  there  are  many  such  names  as  these 
among  the  Indians,  you  will  have  enough  to  do 
without  going  to  a  buffalo  hunt. 

Austin.  I  never  dreamed  that  there  were  such 
names  as  those  in  the  world. 

Basil,  Ay,  you  will  have  enough  of  them, 
Austin,  if  you  go  abroad.  You  w^ill  never  be 
able  to  learn  them,  do  what  you  will.  Give  it 
up,  Austin  ;  give  it  up  at  once. 

Though  Brian  and  Basil  were  very  hard  on 
Austin  on  their  way  home,  about  the  long  names 
of  the  Indians,  and  the  impossibility  of  his  ever 
being  able  to  learn  them  by  heart,  Austin  defended 
himself  stoutly.  "  Very  likely,"  said  he,  "  ai|lr 
all,  they  call  these  long  names  very  short,  just  aS 
we  do ;  Nat  for  Nathaniel,  Kit  for  Christopher, 
and  Elic  for  Alexander." 


}*'■■■: 


1 


%:f. 


iK  -■*"■.'.  .irfki:: 


CHAPTER  IV. 


It  was  not  long  before  Austin,  Brian,  and 
Basil  were  again  listening  to  the  interesting  ac- 
counts given  by  their  friend,  the  hunter;  and  it 
would  have  been  a  difficult  point  to  decide  whether 
the  listeners  or  the  narrator  derived  most  pleasure 
from  their  occupation.  Austin  began  without 
delay  to  speak  of  the  aborigines  of  North  America. 

"  We  want  to  know,"  said  he,  "  a  little  more 
about  what  these  people  were,  and  when  they 
were  first  found  out."  •    **  " 

Hunter.  When  America  was  first  discovered, 
the  inhabitants,  though  for  the  most  part  partaking 
of  one  general  character,  were  not  without  variety. 
The  greater  part,  as  I  told  you,  were,  bblh  in  hbt 


,"H    ... 


'"tI. 


NORTH  AMERICA.* 


'n  y^  4S 


divided  into  four  pa^'.  KK'^'"  ''T  '»«« 
vians,  vrho  were,  to  aconifc'^"^''  P^™- 
I'zed;  the  Caribs.  who  ?nh?K?^FH  *'''«'»*.  civi- 

and luxuriant c£?theWesW*"  .^"«  «°a 
maux,  who  were  then  LY?h«     ""'  *eEsqui. 

ftj  are  now,  living    n  'thtsa^'  ^'^^^ '^ 

Indfr!"-   '^'^  *«  ^~.  a.  „,t  Red 

whfK„?.:^,i7  -  r[^  'jte  the  people  . 
and  for  this  reC,'a„J  b  **  ^°'*  "^  A«V-. 
across  Behring's  Staifs  1  L  T'^  •*«  ''•''tance 
they  came  from  Asia  all        *•"*'  "  '«  bought 
people.     The  redden  Ire' V/'^  "^^^  ^-^^ 
and  as  we  agreed  that  I  should  X""'  '^^^^' 
P-e„t race  of  them.  perJ^'lS/:: S'S! 

wi|S;^-.h2-^3^,'^-fi«eofth.r 

Basil.    And  how  thev  talt  »^  „ 
tomahawks.        '      .   "  ''''°'"  their  speais  and 
difeindino::f:?e"^t£H'-  a«  0^       . 


,# 


*■ 


••NifiV. 


d^      '^^ 


50 


THE   INDIANS   OF 


^r. 


Hi 


%-■ 


form  their  wigwams  nearly  in  the  same  manner ; 
that  is,  by  sewing  together  the  skins  of  buffaloes, 
afler  properly  dressing  them,  and  making  them 
into  the  form  of  a  tent.  This  covering  is  then 
supported  by  poles.  The  tent  has  a  hole  at  the 
top,  to  let  out  the  smoke,  and  to  let  in  the  light. 

Austin,  Ay,  that  is  a  better  way  of  making  a 
wigwam  than  covering  over  sticks  with  turf. 

Hunter,  The  wigwams,  or  lodges,  of  the  Man- 
dans  are  round.  A  circular  foundation  is  dug 
about  two  feet  deep ;  timbers  six  feet  high  are  set 
up  all  around  it,  and  on  these  are  placed  other 
iong  timbers,  slanting  inwards,  and  fastened  to- 
gether in  the  middle,  like  a  tent,  leaving  space  for 
fight  and  for  the  smoke  to  pass.  This  tent-like  roof 
is  supported  by  beams  and  upright  posts,  and  it  is 
covered  over  outwardly  by  willow  boughs  and  a 
thick  coating  of  earth  ;  then  comes  the  last  cover- 
ing of  hard  tough  clay.  The  sun  bakes  this,  and 
long  use  makes  it  solid.  The  outside  of  a  Mandan 
lodge  is  almost  as  useful  as  the  inside  ;  for  there 
the  people  sit,  stand,  walk,  and  take  the  air. 
These  lodges  are  forty,  fifty,  or  sixty  feet  wide. 

Brian,  The  Mandan  wigwam  is  the  best  of  all. 

Hunter,  Wigwams,  like  those  f  the  Mandans, 
•which  are  always  in  the  same  place,  and  are  not 
intended  to  be  removed,  are  more  substantial  than 
such  as  may  be  erected  and  taken  down  at  plea- 
sure. Some  of  the  wigwams  of  the  Crow  Indians, 
covered  as  they  are  with  skins  dressed  almost 
"white,  and  ornamented  with  paint,  porcupine 
quills  and  scalp-locks,  are  very  beautiful. 

Austin,  Yes ;  they  must  look  even  better  than 


# 


I 


f.A 


-•f-j^r; 


KORTH   AMERICA.  Q^ 

the  Mandan  lodges,  and  they  can  be  taken  down 
and  carried  away. 

Hunter.  It  would  surprise  you  to  witness  the 
manner  in  which  an  encampment  of  Crows  or 
Sioux  strike  their  tents  or  wigwams.  I  have  seen 
several  hundred  lodges  all  standing;  in  two  or 
three  minutes  after,  all  were  flat  upon  the  prairie. 

Austin.  Why,  it  must  be  like  magic. 

Hunter.  The  time  has  been  fixed,  preparation^ 
made,  the  signal  given,  and  all  at  once  the  poles 
and  skin  coverings  have  been  taken  down. 

Brian.  How  do  they  carry  the  wigwams  away 
with  them  ? 

Hunter.  The  pc^es  are  dragged  along  by  horses 
and  by  dogs ;  the  smaller  ends  being  fastened 
over  their  shoulders,  while  on  the  larger  ends, 
dragging  along  the  ground,  are  placed  the  cover- 
ings, rolled  up  together.  The  dogs  pull  along 
two  poles,  each  with  a  load,  while  the  horses  are 
taxed  according  to  their  strength.  Hundreds  of 
horses  and  dogs,  thus  dragging  their  burdens, 
may  be  seen  slowly  moving  over  the  prairie  with 
attendant  Indir  ^is  on  horseback,  and  women  and 
giris  on  foot  hi  avily  laden. 

Brian.  What  a  sight !  and  to  what  length  they 
must  stretch  out ;  such  a  number  of  them ! 

Hunter.  Some  of  their  villages  are  large,  and 
fortified  with  two  rows  of  high  poles  round  them. 
A  Pawnee  Pict  village  on  the  Red  River,  with  its 
five  or  six  hundred  beehive-like  wigwams  of 
poles,  thatched  with  prairie  grass,  much  pleased 
me.  Round  the  village  there  w^re  fields  of  maize, 
melons  and  pumpkins  growing. 


*• 


0 


f 


•*   I 


^• 


•fe** 


mnmmm  iv     i  i 


52 


THE   INDIANS   01* 


r 


f  ff  '1 


i 


The  Indians  hunt)  fish,  ar'J  some  of  them  raise 
corn  for  food  ;  but  the  flesh  of  the  butTalo  is  what 
they  most  depend  upon. 

Austin,  How  do  the  Indians  cook  their  food  ? 

Hunter,  They  broil  or  roast  meat  and  fish,  by 
laying  it  on  the  fire,  or  on  sticks  raised  above  the 
fire.  They  boil  meat,  also,  making  of  it  a  sort 
of  soup.  I  have  often  seated  myself,  sauatting 
down  on  a  robe  spread  for  me,  to  ?i  fine  joint  of 
bufi'alo  ribs,  admirably  roasted  ;  with,  perhaps,  a 
pudding-like  paste  of  the  prairie  turnip,  flavoured 
with  buffalo  berries. 

Austin,  That  is  a  great  deal  like  an  English 
dinner — roast  beef  and  a  pudding. 

Hunter.  The  Indians  eat  a  great  deal  of  green 
corn,  pemican,  and  marrow  fat.  The  pemican  is 
buffalo  meat,  dried  hard,  and  pounded  in  a 
wooden  mortar.  Marrow  fat  is  what  is  boiled 
out  of  buffalo  bones ;  it  is  usually  kept  in  blad- 
ders. They  eat,  also,  the  flesh  of  the  deer  and 
other  yimals :  that  of  the  dog  is  reserved  for 
feasts  and  especial  occasions.  They  have,  also, 
beans  and  peas,  peaches,  melons  and  strawberries, 
]>ears,  pumpkins,  chinkapins,  walnuts  and  chest- 
nuts. These  things  they  can  get  when  settled  in 
their  villages ;  but  when  wandering,  or  on  their 
war  parties,  they  take  up  with  what  they  can  find. 
They  never  eat  salt  with  their  food. 

Basil,  And  what  kind  of  clothes  do  they  wear  ? 

Hunter,  Principally  skins,  unless  they  trade 
with  the  whites,  in  which  case  they  buy  clothes 
of  different  kinds.  Some  wear  long  hair,  some 
cut  their  hair  off  and  shave  the  head.    Somt 


•■*.  ,•  ''i 


?«»»« 


T  "■'.'» 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


53 


dress  themselves  vfiih  very  few  ornaments,  but 
others  have  very  many.  Shall  I  describe  to  you 
the  full  dress  of  Mdh-tO'tdh^pay  "  the  four  bears." 

•Austin,  Oh,  yes;  every  thing  belonging  to 
him. 

Hunter,  You  must  imagine,  then,  that  he  is 
standing  up  before  you,  while  I  describe  him,  and 
that  he  is  not  a  little  proud  of  his  costly  attire. 

Austin.  I  fancy  that  I  can  see  him  now. 

Hunter,  His  robe  was  the  soft  skin  of  a  young 
buffalo  bull.  On  one  side  was  the  fur ;  on  the 
other,  were  pictured  the  victories  he  had  won. 
His  shirt,  or  tunic,  was  made  of  the  skins  of  moun- 
tain sheep,  ornamented  with  porcupine  quills  and 
paintings  of  his  battles.  From  the  edge  of  his 
shoulder-band  hung  the  long  black  locks  that  he 
had  taken  with  his  own  hand  from  his  enemies. 
His  head-dress  was  of  war-eagle  quills,  falling 
down  his  back  to  his  very  feet ;  on  the  top  of  his 
head  stood  a  pair  of  buffalo  horns,  shaven  thin, 
and  polished  beautifully.  Ift* 

Brian,  What  a  figure  he  must  have  made ! 

Hunter,  His  leggings  "were  tight,  decorated  with 
porcupine  quills  and  scalp  locks :  they  were  made 
of  the  finest  deer  skins,  and  fastened  to  a  belt  round 
the  waist.  His  mocassins,  or  shoes,  were  buck- 
skin, embroidered  in  the  richest  manner ;  and  his 
necklace,  the  skin  of  an  otter,  having  on  it  fifty 
huge  claws,  or  rather  talons,  of  the  gnzzly  bear. 

Jlustin,  What  a  desperate  fellow!  Bold  as  a 
lion,  I  will  be  bound  for  it.  Had  he  no  weapons 
about  him? 

Hunter,  Oh,  yes !    He  held  in  his  left  hand  a 


n 


i 


* 


"#■ 


# 


'M^. 


54 


THE  INDIAirS  OF 


two-edged  spear  of  polished  steel,  with  a  shafl  of 
tough  ash,  and  ornamented  with  tufts  of  war- 
eagle  quills.  His  bow^  beautifully  white,  was 
formed  of  bone,  strengthened  with  the  sinews  of 
deer,  drawn  tight  over  the  back  of  it ;  the  bow- 
string was  a  three-fold  twist  of  sinews.  Seldom 
had  its  twang  been  heard,  without  an  enemy  or  a 
buffalo  falling  to  the  earth ;  and  rarely  had  that 
lance  been  urged  home,  without  finding  its  way 
to  some  victim's  heart. 

Austin,  Yes ;  I  thought  he  was  a  bold  fellow. 

Hunter,  He  had  a  costly  shield  of  the  hide  of 
a  buffalo,  stiffened  with  glue  and  fringed  round 
with  eagle  quills  and  antelope  hoofs ;  and  a  quiver 
of  panther  skin,  well  filled  with  deadly  shafts. 
Some  of  their  points  were  flint,  and  some  were 
steel,  and  most  of  them  were  stained  with  blood. 
He  carried  a  pipe,  a  tobacco  sack,  a  belt,  and  a 
medicine  bag ;  and  in  his  right  hand  he  held  a 
war  club  like  a  sling,  being  made  of  a  round 
stone  wrapped  up  in  a  raw  hide  and  fastened  to  a 
tough  stick  handle. 

Austin.  What  sort  of  a  pipe  was  it  ? 

BdsiL  What  was  in  his  tobacco  sack  ? 

Brian.  You  did  not  say  what  his  belt  was 
made  of. 

Hunter.  His  pipe  was  made  of  red  pipe-stone, 
and  it  had  a  stem  of  young  ash,  full  three  feet 
long,  braided  with  porcupine  quills  in  the  shape 
of  animals  and  men.  It  was  also  ornamented 
with  the  beaks  of  woodpeckers,  and  hairs  from 
the  tail  of  the  white  buffalo.  One  thing  I  ou^ht 
not  to  omit ;  on  the  lower  half  of  the  pipe,  which 


.'iff' . 


m' 


•i«*»7'"» " 


i5< 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


55 


A- 


aft  of 
war- 
,  was 
ws  of 
bow- 
eldom 
y  or  a 
1  that 
;s  way 

5II0W. 
ide  of 
round 
quiver 
shafts. 
B  were 
blood, 
and  a 
eld  a 
round 
d  toa 


It  was 


was  painted  red,  were  notched  the  snows,  or  years 
of  his  life.  By  this  simple  record  of  their  lives, 
the  red  men  of  the  forest  and  the  prairie  may  be 
led  to  something  like  reflection. 

Basdl.     What  was  in  his  tobacco  sack  ? 

Hunter.  His  flint  and  steel,  for  striking  a  light, 
and  his  tobacco,  which  was  nothing  more  than 
the  bark  of  the  red  willow.  His  medicine  bag 
was  beaver  skin,  adorned  with  ermine  and  hawks' 
bills  ;  and  his  belt,  in  which  he  carried  his  toma- 
hawk and  sca1ping-4nife,  was  formed  of  tough 
buckskin,  firmly  fastened  round  his  loins. 

Jlustin.  Please  to  tell  us  about  the  scalping 
knife.     It  must  be  a  fearful  instrument. 

Hunter.  All  instruments  of  cruelty,  vengeance 
and  destruction  are  fearful,  whether  in  savage  or 
civilized  life.  What  are  we^  that  wrath  and  re- 
venge and  covetousness  should  be  fostered  in  our  * 
hearts !  What  is  man,  that  be  should  shed  the 
blood  of  his  brother !  Before  the  Indians  had  deal- 
ing with  the  whites,  they  made  their  own  weapons : 
their  bows  were  strung  with  the  sinews  of  deer ; 
their  arrows  were  headed  with  flint ;  their  knives 
were  sharpened  bone ;  their  war-clubs  were  formed 
of  wood,  cut  into  diflerent  shapes,  and  armed 
with  sharp  stones ;  and  their  tomahawks,  or 
hatchets,  were  of  the  same  materials :  but  now, 
many  of  their  weapons,  such  as  hatchets,  spear- 
heads, and  knives,  are  made  of  iron,  being  pro- 
cured from  the  whites,  in  exchange  for  the  skins.  % 
they  obtain  in  the  chase.  A  scalping-knife  is  ^ 
oftentimes  no  more  than  a  rudely  formed  butcher's 


^' 


mi 


-k 


'*-• 


-TljjS  • 


'fB^ 


\3 


[« 


■ 


56 


m 


tHE  lKt)IAN3  01^ 


#s 


f^i^' 


knife,  with  one  edge,  and  the  Indians jpair  fhem 
in  beautiful  scabbards  under  their  belff: 

Austin,   How  does  an  Indian  scalp  his  enemy  ? 

Hunter,  The  hair  on  the  crown  of  the  head 
is  seized  with  the  left  hand  ;  the  knife  makes  a 
circle  round  it  through  the  skin,  and  then  the  hair 
and  skin  together,  sometimes  with  the  hand,  and 
sometimes  with  the  teeth,  are  forcibly  torn  ofl"!  The 
scalp  may  be,  perhaps,  as  broad  as  my  hand. 

Brian,  Terrible  !  Scalping  would  be  sure  to 
kill  a  man,  I  suppose. 

Hunter,  Not  always.  Scalps  arr  war  trophies, 
and  are  generally  regarded  as  proofs  of  the  death 
of  an  enemy ;  but  an  Indian,  inflamed  "with  hatred 
and  rage,  and  excited  by  victory,  will  not  always 
"wait  till  his  foe  has  expired  before  he  scalps  him. 
The  hair,  as  well  as  the  scalp,  of  a  fallen  foe  is 
^rried  off  by  the  victorious  Indian,  and  with  it 
Us  clothes  are  afterwards  ornamented.  It  is  said, 
that,  during  the  old  French  war,  an  Indian  slew 
a  Frenchman  who  wore  a  wig.  The  warrior 
stooped  down,  and  seized  the  hair  for  the  purpose 
i  -^  of  securing  the  scalp.  To  his  great  astonishment, 
the  wig  came  off,  leaving  the  head  bare.  The 
Indian  held  it  up,  and  examining  it  with  great 
v^wonder,  exclaimed,  in  broken  English,  "  Dat  one 
I.  nbi^ie." 

How  the  Indian  would  stare ! 

He  had  never  seen  a  wig  before,  I 


"iW 


■•>. 


Brian, 
Basil, 

"*?%^are  say. 

■^  ■    Hunter, 


The  arms  of  Indians,  offensive  and 
defensive,  are,  for  the  most  part,  those  which  I 
~  ave  mentioned — the  club,  the  tomahawk,  the  bow 


iV' 


^,f^ 


/.- 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


-  4  ^ 

and  arrow,  the  spear,  the  shield  and  the  scalping-  , 
knife.     But  the  use  of  lire-arms  is  gradually  ex-  ' 
tending  among  them.     Some  of  their  clubs  are 
merely  massy  pieces  of  hard,  heavy  wood,  nicely 
fitted  to  the  hand,  with,  perhaps,  a  piece  of  hard 
bone  stuck  in  the  head  part ;  others  are  curiously 
carved  into  fanciful  and  uncouth  shapes  ;  while, 
occasionally,  may  be  seen  a  frightful  war-club, 
knobbed  all  over  with  brass  nails,  with  a  steel  f 
blade  at  the  end  of  it,  a  span  long. 

Austin.    What  a  terrible  weapon,  when  wield- 
ed by  a  savage ! 

.rrr'   t^llk^ 

01 


i  T'  m 


%'• 


$^-.   ,-'.) 


a,  scalping-knife.    ft,  ditto,  in  s^^ath.    e,  if,wu|;< 
clubs.    0,  e,  tomahawks,    g,  whip. 

Brian.  I  would  not  go  among  the  Indians, 
with  their  clubs  and  tomahawks,  fov  a  thousand 
dollars.  ^  < 

Basil.    Nor  would  I;  they  would  l?e  sure  ta 

Hunter.  The  tomahawk  is  often  carvec^Jtm 
strange  manner;  and  some  of  the  bows  an^^tr- 


-**■»-■ 


^'. '  '' 


#f 


*.  t 


,U- 


58 


THE   INDIANS   OF 


V 


1 1 


■I 


•  M 


•i# 


rows  are  admirable.  The  bow  formed  of  bone 
and  strong  sinews  is  a  deadly  weapon  ;  and  some 
Indians  have  boasted  of  having  sent  an  arrow 
from  its  strings  right  through  the  body  of  a  buffalo. 

Austin,  What  a  strong  arm  that  Indian  must 
have  had  !     Through  a  buffalo's  body ! 

Hunter.  The  quiver  is  made  of  the  skin  of 
the  panther,  or  the  otter ;  and  some  of  the  arrows 
it  contains  are  usually  poisoned. 

Brian.  Why,  then,  an  arrow  is  sure  to  kill  a 
person,  if  it  hits  him. 

Hunter,  It  is  not  likely  that  an  enemy,  badly 
wounded  with  a  poisoned  arrow,  will  survive ;  for 
uie  head  is  set  on  loosely,  in  order  that,  when  the 
arrow  is  withdrawn,  the  poisoned  barb  may  re- 
main in  the  vound.  How  opposed  are  these  cruel 
stratagems  of  war  to  the  precepts  of  the  gospel 
of  peace,  which  are  **  Love  your  enemies,  bless 
them  that  curse  you,  do  good  to  them  that  hate 
you,  and  pray  for  them  which  despitefully  use  you, 
and  persecute  you !" 

Basil.  What  will  you  do,  Austin,  if  you  go 
among  the  Indians,  and  they  shoot  you  with  a 
l^oisoned  arrow  ? 

Austin.  Oh,  I  shall  carry  a  shield.  You 
heard  that  the  Indians  carry  shields. 

Hunter.  The  shields  of  the  Crows  and  Black- 
feet  are  made  of  the  thick  skin  of  the  butfalo's 
neck:  they  are  made  as  hard  as  possible,  by 
smoking  them,  and  by  putting  glue  upon  them 
obtained  from  the  hoofs  of  animals ;  so  that^they 
win  not  only  turn  aside  an  arrow,  but  evea  a 
musket  ball,  if  they  are  held  a  little  obliquely. 


J 


"W^ 


of  bone 
id  some 
fi  arrow 
buflalo. 
m  must 

skin  of 
5  arrows 

0  kill  a 

y,  badly 
ive ;  for 
,'hen  the 
may  re- 
?se  cruel 

1  gospel 
s,  bless 
lat  hate 

se  you, 

you  go 
with  a 

.    You 

Black- 
utFalo's 
Die,  by 
them 
a#hey 
evea  a 
ely. 


-< 


^n> 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


59 


Austin.  There,  Basil !  You  see  that  I  shall  be 
safe,  after  all ;  for  I  shall  carry  a  large  shield,  and 
the  very  hardest  I  can  get  anywhere. 

Hunter.  Their  spears  have  long,  slender  handles, 
with  steel  heads:  the  handles  are  a  dozen  feet 
long,  or  more,  and  very  skilful  are  they  in  the  use 
of  them  ;  and  yet,  such  is  the  dread  of  the  Indian 
when  opposed  to  a  white  man,  that,  in  spite  of 
his  war  horse  and  his  eagle  plumes,  his  bow  and 
w6ll-filled  quiver,  his  long  lance,  tomahawk  and 
scalping-knife,  his  self-possession  forsakes  him. 
He  has  heard,  if  not  seen,  what  the  white  man 
has  done ;  and  he  thinks  there  is  no  standing  be> 
fore  him.  If  he  can  surprise  him,  he  will ;  but, 
generally,  the  red  man  fears  to  grapple  with  a  pale 
face  in  the  strife  of  war,  for  he  considers  him 
clothed  with  an  unknown  power. 

Austin.  I  should  have  thought  that  an  In* 
dian  would  be  more  than  a  match  for  a  white 
man. 

Hunter.  So  long  as  he  can  crawl  in  the  grass 
or  brushwood,  and  steal  silently  upon  him  by  sur- 
prise, or  send  a  shaft  from  his  bow  from  behind  a 
tree,  or  a  bullet  from  his  rifle  from  the  brow  of  a 
bluif,  he  has  an  advantage ;  but,  when  he  comes 
face  to  face  with  the  white  man,  he  is  super- 
stitiously  afraid  of  him.  The  power  of  the  white 
man,  in  war,  is  that  of  bravery  and  skill ;  the 
power  of  the  red  man  consists  much  in  stratagem 
and  surprise.  Fifty  white  men,  armed,  on  an 
open  plain,  would  beat  off  a  hundred  red  men. 

Brian.  Why  is  it  that  the  red  men  are  always 
fighting    against  one    another^      They  are   all 


•% 


;#• 


t 


\.    -utL 


't^ 


60 


THE   INDIANS  OF 


* 


'"*- 


brothers,  and  what  is  the  use  of  their  killing  one 
another? 

Hunter.  Most  of  the  battles,  among  the  Indians, 
are  brought  about  by  the  belief  that  they  are  bound 
to  revenge  an  injury  to  their  tribe.  There  can  be 
no  peace  till  revenge  is  taken ;  they  are  almost 
always  retaliating  one  on  another.  Then,  again, 
the  red  men  have  too  often  been  tempted,  bribed, 
and,  in  some  cases,  forced  to  fight  for  the  white 
man. 

Brian,  That  is  very  sad,  though. 

Hunter,  It  is  sad  ;  but  when  you  say  red  men 
are  brothers,  are  not  white  men  brothers  too? 
And  have  they  not  been  instructed  in  the  truths 
of  Christianity,  and  the  gospel  of  peace,  which 
red  men  have  not,  anc}  yet  how  ready  they  are  to 
draw  the  sword !  War  springs  from  sinful  passions ; 
and  until  sin  is  subdued  in  the  human  heart,  war 
will  ever  be  congenial  to  it. 

Austin.  What  do  the  Indians  call  the  sun  ? 

Hunter.  The  different  tribes  speak  different  lan- 
guages, and  therefore  you  must  tell  me  which  of 
them  you  mean, 

Austin.  Oh !  I  forgot  that.  Tell  me  what  any 
two  or  three  of  the  tribes  call  it. 

Hunter.  A  Sioux  calls  it  wee  ;  a  Mandan,  m^- 
nahka;  a  Tuscarora,  hiday ;  and  a  Blackfoot, 
cristeqae  ahtose. 

Austin,  The  Blackfoot  is  the  hardest  to  remem- 
ber.    I  should  not  like  to  learn  that  language. 

Brian.  But  you  must  learn  it,  if  you  go  among 
them ;  or  else  you  will  not  understand  a  word 
they  say. 


'^U 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


61 


Austin,  Well !  I  shall  manage  it  somehow  or 
other.  Perhaps  some  of  them  may  know  English ; 
or  we  may  make  motions  one  to  another.  What 
do  they  call  the  moon  ? 

Hunter,  A  Blackfoot  calls  it  coqae  ahtose ;  a 
Sioux,  071  wee  ;  a  Riccaree,  wetah  ;  a  Mandan,  esto 
menahka;  and  a  Tuscarora,  autsuvyehaw, 

Brian,  I  wish  you  joy  of  the  languages  you 
have  to  learn,  Austin,  if  you  become  a  wood- 
ranger,  or  a  trapper.  Remember,  you  must  leam 
them  all ;  and  you  will  have  quite  enough  to  do, 
I  warrant  you. 

Austin.  Oh!   I  shall  leam  a  little  at  a  time. 
We  cannot  do  every  thing  at  once.     What  do  the^ 
red  men  call  a  buffalo  ?  r    -  v^ 

Hunter,  In  Riccaree,  it^is  watash ;  in  Mandan, 
ptemday ;  in  Tuscarora,  hohats ;  in  Blackfoot, 
eneuh. 

Basil.  What  different  names  they  give  them  I 

Hunter,  Yes.  In  some  instances  they  are  alike, 
but  generally  they  differ.  If  you  were  to  say 
"  How  do  you  do  ?"  as  is  the  custom  with  us ; 
you  must  say  among  the  Indians,  How  ke  eke 
wa  9  Chee  na  e  num  ?  Bati  youthay  its  9  or, 
Tush  hah  thnh  mah  kah  hush  9  according  to  the 
language  in  which  you  spoke.  I  hardly  think 
these  languages  would  suit  you  so  well  as  your 
own. 

Brian,  They  would  never  suit  me ;  but  Austin 
must  learn  every  word  of  them.* 

Austin,  Please  to  tell  us  how  to  count  ten,  and 
then  we  will  ask  you  no  more  about  languages. 
Let  it  be  in  the  language  of  the  Riccarees.    a*.?a^ 

6  •  '■•^"  ■'■ 


>* 


:^\ 


% 


.♦.* 


62 


THE   INDIANS   OF 


-#■ 


.^ 


Hunter.  Very  well.  Jlsco,  pitco,  tow  wit,  tehee 
tish^  tehee  hoo,  tcha  piSy  to  tchupis,  to  tcha  pis  vjouy 
nah  e  we  won,  nah  en.  I  will  just  add,  that,  wcetah, 
is  twenty ;  nahen  tehee  hoo,  is  fifty ;  nah  en  te  tcha 
pis  won,  is  eighty ;  shok  tan,  is  a  hundred  ;  and 
sho  tan  tera  hoo,  is  a  thousand. ' 

Austin.  Can  the  Indians  write  ? 

Hunter.  Oh  no  ;  they  have  no  use  for  pen  and 
ink,  excepting  some  of  the  tribes  near  the  whites. 
In  many  of  the  different  treaties  which  have  been 
mide  between  the  white  and  the  red  man,  the 
latter  has  put,  instead  of  his  name,  a  rough  draw- 
ing of  the  animal  or  thing  after  which  he  liad  been 
called.  If  the  Indian  chief  was  named  "  War 
hatchet,"  he  made  a  rough  outline  of  a  tomahawk. 
If  his  name  was  "  Thg  great  buflalo  "  then  the 
outline  of  a  bufralo  was  his  signature. 

Basil.  How  curious ! 

Hunter.  The  Big  turtle,  the  Fish,  the  Scalp, 
the  Arrow,  and  the  Big  canoe,  all  draw  the  form 
represented  by  their  names  in  the  same  manner. 
If  you  were  to  see  these  signatures,  you  would 
not  think  these  Indian  chiefs  had  ever  taken  les- 
sons in  drawing. 

Brian.  I  dare  say  their  fish,  and  arrows,  and 
Jiatchets,  and  turtles,  and  bufTaloes,  are  comical 
figures  enough.  ?^ , 

Hunter.  Yes :  but  the  hands  t&at  make  these 
feeble  scrawls  are  strong,  when  they,,  wield  the 
bow  or  the  tomahawk.  A  white  man  in  the  In- 
dian country,  according  to  a  story  that  is  told 
met  a  Shawnese  riding  a  horse,  which  he  re- 
cognised as  his  own,  and  claimed  it  as  his  pro- 


\.  ^^. 


^ 


^U 


iV—f 


NORTH    AMERICA. 


63 


pprty.  The  Indian  calmly  answered:  "Friend^ 
after  a  little  while  I  will  call  on  you  at  your  house, 
when  we  will  talk  this  matter  over."  A  few 
.  days  afterwards,  the  Indian  came  to  tjae  white 
man's  house,  who  insisted  on  having^  his  horse 
restored  to  him.  The  other  then  told  him: 
*'  Friend,  the  horse  which  you  claim  belonged  to 
my  uncle,  who  lately  died  ;  according  to  the 
Indian  custom,  I  have  become  heir  to  all  his  pro- 
perty." The  white  man  not  being  satisfied,  and 
renewing  his  demand,  the  Indian  immediately  took 
a  coal  from  the  fire-place,  and  made  two  striking  ?» 
figures  on  the  door  of  the  house  ;  the  one  repRp^- 
senting  the  white  man  taking  the  horse,  and  the 
other  himself  in  the  act  of  scalping  him  :  then  he 
coolly  asked  the  trembling  claimant  whether  he 
could  read  this  Indian  writing.  The  matter  -vas 
thus  settled  at  once,  and  the  Indian  rode  off. 

Austin.  Ay ;  the  white  man  knew  that  he  had 
better  give  up  the  horse  than  be  scalped. 

After  the  hunter  had  told  Austin  and    his 
brothers  that  he  should  be  siy^e  to  have  something 
new^  to  tell  them  on  their  next  visit,  they  took  their 
departure,  having  quite   enough  to  occupy  their  . 
minds  till  they  reached  home. 


#1 


^^r 


these 
d  the 
le  In- 
told 
le  re- 
pron- 


*'-■ 


■*■$ 


,,'■-4, 


*: 


64 


Tim  INDIANS  OF 


.^, 


i'S 


»# 


i  CHAPTER  V. 

"Black  Hawk!  Black  Hawk!"  cried  out 
Austin  Edwards,  as  he  came  in  sight  of  the 
hunter,  who  was  just  returning  to  his  cottage  as 
Austin  and  his  brothers  reached  it.  "  You 
promised  to  tell  us  all  about  Black  Hawk,  and  we 
are  come  to  hear  it  now." 

The  nunter  told  the  boys  that  it  had  been  his 
intention  to  talk  with  them  about  the  prairies  and 
bluffs,  and  to  have  described  the  wondrous  works 
of  God  in  the  wilderness.  It  appeared,  however, 
that  Austin's  heart  was  too  much  set  on  hearing 


>•■"•-'« 


•'ik^ 


.■•  * 


■  m 


^^tm 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


65 


the  history  of  Bhick  Hawk,  to  listen  patiently  to 
any  thing  else ;  and  the  hunter,  j)erceiving  this, 
^villin^;ly  agreed  to  gratify  him.  He  told  them, 
that,  in  reading  or  hearing  the  history  of  Indian 
chiefs,  they  must  not  be  carried  away  by  false  no- 
tions of  their  valour,  for  that  it  was  always  mingled 
with  much  cruelty.  The  word  of  God  said  truly, 
that  "  the  dark  places  of  the  earth  are  full  of  the 
habitations  of  cruelty."*  "  With  untaught  In- 
dians," continued  he,  "  revenge  is  virtue ;  and  to 
tomahawk  an  enemy,  and  tear  away  his  scalp,  is 
the  noblest  act  he  can  perform  in  his  own  estima- 
tion ;  whereas  Christians  are  taught,  as  I  said  be- 
fore, to  forgive  and  love  their  enemies.  J3ut  I 
w^ll  now  begin  the  history  of  lilfck  Hawk." 

Muslin.  Suppose  you  tell  us!^?lfis  history  just  as  he 
would  tell  it  himself.  Speak  to  us  as  if  you  were 
Black  Hawk,  and  we  will  not  say  a  single  word. 

Hunter.  Very  well.  Then,  for  a  while,  I  will 
be  Black  Hawk,  and  what  I  tell  you  will  be  true, 
only  the  words  will  be  my  own,  instead  of  those 
of  the  Indian  chief.  And  J^will  speak  as  if  I 
spoke  to  American  white  men.  ^    ''    * 

"  1  am  an  old  man,  the  changes  of  many  moons 
and  the  toils  of  war  have  made  me  old.  I  have 
been  a  conqueror,  and  I  have  been  conquered : 
many  moons  longer  I  cannot  hope  to  live. 

"  I  have  hated  the  whites,  but  have  been  treated 
well  by  them  when  a  prisoner.  I  wish,  before  I 
go  my  long  journey,  at  the  command  of  the  Great" 
Spirit,  to  the  hunting  grounds  of  my  fathers  in 


4f 


.-',   .    *. 


*  Ps.  Ixxiv.  20,      •   . 

6*  •,-- 


4 


r'^y- 


f 


'# 


66 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


another  world,  to  tell  my  history;  it  will  then  be 
seen  why  I  hated  the  whites.  Bold  and  proud 
was  I  once,  in  my  native  forests,  but  the  pale  faces 
deceived  me ;  it  was  for  this  that  I  hated  Ihem. 

**  Would  you  know  where  I  was  born  ?  I  will 
tell  you.  It  was  at  the  Sac  village  on  Rock  River. 
This  was,  according  to  white  man's  reckoning, 
in  the  year  1767,  so  that  I  am  fifty  years  old,  and 
ten  and  seven. 

"  My  father's  name  was  Py-e-sa  ;  the  father  of 
his  father  was  Na-na-ma-kee,  or  Thunder.  I  was 
ia  brave,  and  afterwards  a  chief,  a  leading  war- 
chief,  carrying  the  medicine  bag.  I  fought  against 
th^  Osages.  Did  I  fear  liiem }  No.  Did  I  often 
win  the  victory  ?    I  did. 

"  The  white  men  of  America  said  to  the  Sacs 
and  Foxes,  to  the  Sioux,  the  Chippewas,  and 
Winnebagoes,  *  Go  you  to  the  other  side  of  the 
Mississippi ;'  and  they  said,  '  Yes.'  But  I  said, 
'  No :  why  should  I  leave  the  place  where  our 
wigwams  stand,  where  we  have  hunted  for  so 
many  moons,  and  where  the  bones  of  our  fathers 
have  rested  ?  Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak,  or  Black 
Hawk,  will  not  go.' 

"  My  heart  told  me  that  my  great  white  father, 
the  chief  of  America,  would  not  do  wrong ;  would 
not  make  me  go  to  the  other  side  of  the  river. 
My  prophet  also  told  me  the  same.  I  felt  my  arm 
strong,  and  I  fought.  Never  did  the  hand  of 
Black  Hawk  kill  woman  or  child.  They  were 
warriors  that  Black  Hawk  fought  with. 

"  Though  I  came  down  from  the  chief  Na-ni- 
ma-kee,  yet  my  people  would  not  let  me  dress  like 


;^**:v 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


67 


a  chief.  I  did  not  paint  myself;  I  did  not  wear 
feathers ;  but  I  was  bold  and  not  afraid  to  fight, 
so  I  became  a  brave       w 

"  The  Osages  were  our  enemies,  and  I  went 
with  my  father  and  many  more  to  fight.  I  saw 
my  father  kill  an  enemy,  and  tear  away  the  scalp 
from  his  head.  I  felt  determined  to  do  the  same. 
I  pleased  my  father;  for,  with  my  tomahawk  a»>ii 
spear,  I  rushed  on  an  enemy.  I  brought  back 
his  scalp  in  my  hand. 

"  I  next  led  on  seven  of  our  people  against  a 
hundred  Osages,  and  killed  one.  After  that,  I 
led  on  two  hundred,  when  we  killed  a  hundred, 
and  took  many  scalps.  In  a  battle  with  the  Che- 
rokees  my  father  was  killed.  I  painted  my  face 
black,  and  prayed  to  the  Great  Spirit,  and  did  not 
fight  any  more  for  five  years ;  alj  that  J  did  was 
to  hunt  and  to  fish.  ^^  ^ ,    ^ 

"  The  Osages  had  done  us  great  wrong,  so  we 
were  determined  to  destroy  them.  I  set  off,  in  the 
third  moon,  at  the  head  of  five  hundred  Sacs  and 
Foxes,  and  one  hundred  loways.  We  fell  upon 
forty  lodges.  I  made  two  of  their  squaws  pnson- 
ers,  but  all  the  rest  of  the  people  in  the  lod^  ?  /e 
killed.  Black  Hawk  killed  seven  men  himself. 
In  a  battle  with  the  Cherokees,  I  killed  thirteen 
of  their  bravest  with  my  own  hand. 

"  One  of  our  people  killed  a  pale-face  Ameri- 
can, and  he  was  put  in  prison  ;  so  we  sent  to  St. 
Louis,  to  pay  for  the  killed  man,  and  to  cover  the 
blood.  Did  the  pale  faces  do  well?  No,  they 
did  not ;  thev  set  our  man  free,  but  when  he 


began 


to  run  they  shot  him  down ;  and  they  gave  strong 


'i^fc**^***^'" 


-'rfr.]"^-'-,'^^^,^ 


m 


THE   INDIANS   OF 


drink  to  our  four  people,  and  told  them  to  give  up 

"*    th:»  best  part  of  our  hunting  ground  for  a  thousand 

dollars  every  twelve   moons.     What  right  had 

"  they  to  give  our  men  strong  drink,  and  then  cheat 

them  ?     None. 

"  American  white  faces  came,  with  a  great,  big 
gun,  to  build  a  fort,  and  said  it  was  to  trade  with 
g  lis.  They  treated  the  Indians  ill :  we  went  against 
the  fort.  I  dug  a  hole  in  the  ground  with  my 
knife,  so  that  I  could  hide  myself  with  some  grass. 
I  shot  with  my  rifle  and  cut  the  cord  of  their  flag, 
so  that  they  could  not  pull  it  up  to  fly  in  the  air ; 
and  we  fired  the  fort,  but  they  put  out  the  fire. 

"  One  of  our  people  killed  a  white,  and  was 
takeli.  He  was  to  die,  but  asked  leave  to  go  and 
see  his  squaw  and  children.  They  let  him  go, 
but  he  i*an  back  through  the  prairies  next  day,  in 
time  to  be  shot  down.  He  did  not  say  he  would 
come  back,  and  then  stay  ;  he  was  an  Indian,  and 
not  a  white  man.  I  hunted  and  fished  for  his 
squaw  and  children  when  he  was  dead. 

"  Why  was  it  that  the  Great  Spirit  did  not  keep 
the  white  men  where  he  put  them  ?  Why  did  he 
let  them  come  among  my  people  with  their  fire- 
driiik,  sickness,  and  guns?  It  had  been  better 
for  red  men  to  be  by  themselves. 

"  We  w^ent  to  a  great  English  brave.  Colonel 
!Dixftn,  at  Green  Bay :  there  were  many  Pottawa- 
'  tomies,  Kickapoos,  Ottowas,  and  Winnebagoes 
there.  The  great  brave  gave  us  pipes,  tobacco, 
new^  pjnns,  powder,  and  clothes.  I  held  a  talk 
"with  him  in  his  tent ;  he  took  my  hand.  *  Gene- 
ral Black  Hawk-'  said  he,  and  he  put  a  medal 


m-t 


i 


►"-WW-'T 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


69 


round  my  neck,  *  you  must  now  hold  us  fast  by 
the  hand ;  you  will  have  the  command  of  all  the 
braves  to  join  our  own  braves  at  Detroit.'  I  was 
sorry,  because  I  wanted  to  go  to  Mississippi. 
But  he  said,  *  No ;  you  are  too  brave  to  kill 
women  and  children :  you  must  kill  braves.' 

"  We  had  a  feast,  and  I  led  away  five  hundred 
braves  to  join  the  British.  Sometimes  we  won, 
and  sometimes  we  lost.  The  Indians  were  kill- 
ing the  prisoners,  but  Black  Hawk  stopped  them. 
He  is  a  coward  who  kills  a  brave  that  has  no  arms 
and  cannot  fight.  I  did  not  like  so  oflen  to  be 
beaten  in  battle,  and  to  get  no  plunder.  I  left  the 
British,  with  twenty  of  my  braves,  to  go  home, 
and  see  after  my  wife  and  children. 

"  I  found  an  old  friend  of  mine  sitting  on  a 
mat  in  sorrow  :  he  had  come  to  be  alone^d||j|  to 
make  himself  little  before  the  Great  Spirit:  he 
had  fasted  long,  he  was  hardly  alive ;  his  son  had 
been  taken  prisoner,  and  shot  and  stabbed  to  death. 
I  put  my  pipe  to  my  friend's  mouth ;  he  smoked 
a  little.  I  took  his  hand,  and  said  '  Black  Hawk 
would  revenge  his  son's  death.'  A  storm  came 
on  ;  I  wrapped  my  old  friend  in  my  blanket. -j^i'he 
storm  gave  over ;  I  made  a  fire.  It  ws*s  too  late ; 
my  friend  was  dead.  I  stopped  with  him  th^  r^ 
mainder  of  the  night ;  and  then  my  people  C9]0i, 
and  we  buried  him  on  the  peak  of  the  bluff,    f  g^ 

"  I  explained  to  my  people  the  way  the  white 
men  fight.  Instead  of  stealing  on  each  other, 
quietly  and  by  surprise,  to  kill  their  enemies  and 
save  their  own  people,  they  all  fight  in  the  sun- 
light, hke  braves ;  not  caring- how  many  of  their 


-* 


v^' 


'^•S^-K'l-,.- 


'«■* 


■'■*»' 

'WV*' 

,v.v..   ■  ' 

J^ 

70 

THE    INDIANS   OF 

'  --l^'- 


-t*. 


i       ^:W 


us.;,; 


$, 


people  fall.  They  then  fcasi:  and  drink  as  if  no- 
thing had  happened,  and  write  on  paper  that  they 
have  won,  whether  they  have  won  or  been  beaten. 
And  they  do  not  write  truth,  for  they  only  put 
down  a  part  of  the  people  they  have  lost.  They 
would  do  to  paddle  a  canoe,  but  not  to  steer  it. 
They  fight  like  braves,  but  they  are  not  fit  to  be 
chiefs,  and  to  lead  war  parties. 

"  I  found  my  wife  well,  and  my  children,  and 
would  have  been  quiet  in  my  lodge ;  for,  while  I 
was  away,  Kee-o-kuk  had  been  made  a  chief:  but 
I  had  to  revenge  the  death  of  the  son  of  my  old 
friend.  I  told  my  friend  so  when  he  was  dying. 
"Vyhy  should  Black  Hawk  speak  a  lie  ?  I  took 
with  me  thirty  braves,  and  went  to  Fort  Madison  ; 
but  the  American  pale  faces  had  gone.  I  was 
glsyjj^but  still  followed  them  down  the  Mississippi. 
I  went  on  their  trail.  I  shot  the  chief  of  the  party 
with  whom  we  fought.  We  returned  home,  bring- 
ing two  scalps.  Black  Hawk  had  done  what  he 
said. 

"  Many  things  happened.  Old  Wash-e-own, 
one  of  the  Pottawatomies,  was  shot  dead  by 
a  war  chief.  I  gave  WAsh-e-own's  relations  two 
horses  and  my  rifles  to  keep  the  peace.  A  party 
of  soldiers  built  a  fort  at  Prairie  du  Chien.  They 
were  friendly  to  us,  but  thr  British  came  and  took 
the  fort.  We  joined  them  ;  we  followe  I  the  boats 
and  shot  fire-arrows,  and  the  sails  of  one  boat 
were  burned,  and  we  took  it. 
*^  "  We  found,  in  the  boats  we  had  taken,  barrels 
of  whiskey  :  this  was  bad  medicine.  Wo  knock- 
ed in  the  heads  of  the  barrels,  and  emptied  out 


<f-^;vy 


W 


NORTH   A.^TExtICA. 


71 


TO 


s 


the  bad  .medicine.  We  found  bottles  and  pack- 
ages, which  we  flung  into  the  river  as  bad  medi- 
cine too.  We  found  guns  and  clothes,  which  I 
divided  with  my  braves.  The  Americans  built  a 
fort ;  I  went  towards  it  with  my  braves.  I  had  a 
dream,  in  which  the  Great  Spirit  told  me  to  go 
down  the  bluff  to  a  creek,  and  to  look  in  a  hollow 
tree  cut  down,  and  there  I  should  see  a  snake ; 
close  by  would  be  the  enemy  unarmed.  I  went 
to  the  creek,  peeped  into  the  tree,  saw  the  snake, 
and  found  the  enemy.  One  man  of  them  was 
killed,  after  that  we  returned  home:  peace  was 
made  between  the  British  and  Americans,  and  we 
were  to  bury  the  tomahawk  too. 

"  We  went  to  the  great  American  chief  at  St. 
Louis,  and  smoked  the  pipe  of  peace.  The  chief 
said  our  great  American  father  was  angry  with  us, 
and  accused  us  of  crimes.  We  said  this  was  a 
lie ;  for  our  great  father  had  deceived  us,  and 
forced  us  into  a  w^ar.  They  were  angry  at  w^hat 
we  said  ;  but  we  smoked  the  pipe  of  peace  again,* 
and  I  first  touched  the  goose  quill ;  but  I  did  not 
know  that,  in  doing  so,  I  gave  away  my  village.  . 
Had  I  known  it,  I  would  never  have  touched  the 
goose  quill. 

"  The  American  whites  built  a  fort  on  Rock 
Island  ;  this  made  us  sorry,  for  it  was  our  garden, 
like  w^hat  the  white  people  have  near  their  big  vil- 
lages. It  supplied  us  with  plums,  apples  and  nuts  , 
with  strawberries  and  blackberries.  IMany  happy^* 
days  had  I  spent  on  Rock  Island.  A  good  spirit  hacL- 
the  caro  of  it :  he  lived  uader  the  rock,  i»j  a  cave. 
He  was  white,  and  his  wings  were  ten  times  big-  - 


.i»i. 


%. 


4''- 


%4 


V    §?: 


*: 


•.■■»,r-"si.',"  ■  ■ajni- 


72 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


# 


H 


ger  than  swan's  wings :  when  the  white  men  came 
there,  he  went  away. 

**  We  had  corn  and  beans  and  pumpkins  and 
squashes.  We  were  the  possessors  of  the  valley 
of  the  Mississippi,  full  seven  hundred  miles  from 
the  Ouisconsin  to  the  Portage  des  Sioux,  near  the 
hiouth  of  the  Missouri.  If  another  prophet  had 
come  to  us  in  those  days,  and  said,  *  The  white 
man  will  drive  you  from  these  hunting  grounds, 
and  from  this  village,  and  Rock  Island,  and  not 
let  you  visit  the  graves  of  your  fathers,'  we  should 
have  said,  *  Why  should  you  tell  us  a  lie  ?' 

"  It  was  good  to  go  to  the  graves  of  our  fathers. 
The  mother  went  there  to  weep  ovei  her  child : 
the^brave  went  there  to  paint  the  post  where  lay 
his  father.  There  was  no  place  in  sorrow  like 
that  where  the  bones  of  our  forefathers  lay.  There 
the  Great  Spirit  took  pity  on  us.  In  our  village, 
we  were  as  happy  as  a  buffalo  on  the  plains ;  but 
now  we  are  more  like  the  hungry  and  howHng 
wolf  in  the  prairie.  i^^ 

"As  the  whites  came  nearer  to  us,  we  became 
more  unhappy.  They  gave  our  people  strong 
liquor,  and  I  could  not  keep  them  from  drinking 
it.  My  eldest  son  and  my  youngest  daughter 
died.  I  gave  away  all  I  had  ;  blackened  my  face 
for  two  years,  lived  alone  with  my  family,  to  hum- 
ble myself  before  the  Great  Spirit.  I  had  only  a 
piece  of  buffalo  robe  to  cover  me. 

"  White  men  came  and  took  part  of  our  lodges ; 
and  Kee-o-kuk  told  me  I  had  better  go  West,  as 
he  had  done.  I  said  I  could  not  forsake  my  vil- 
lage ;  the  prophet  told  me  I  was  right.     I  thought 


wS'^  * 


^ 


« 


.  j'.ii--i-0»--*..M>fei; 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


73 


res; 
as 
vil- 

ight 


I 


then  that  Kee-o-kuk  was  no  brave,  but  a  coward, 
to  give  up  what  the  Great  Spirit  had  given  us. 

**  The  white  men  grew  more  and  more  ;  brought 
■whiskey  among  us,  cheated  us  out  of  our  guns, 
our  horses  and  our  traps,  and  ploughed  up  our 
grounds.  They  treated  us  cruelly ;  and,  while 
they  robbed  us,  said  that  we  robbed  them.  They 
made  right  look  like  wrong,  and  wrong  like  right. 
I  tried  hard  to  get  right,  but  could  not.  The 
white  man  wanted  my  village,  and  back  I  must 
go.  Sixteen  thousand  dollars  every  twelve  moons 
are  to  be  given  to  the  Pottawatomies  for  a  little 
strip  of  land,  while  one  thousand  dollars  only  was 
set  down  for  our  land  signed  away,  worth  twenty 
times  as  much.  White  man  is  too  great  a  cheat 
for  red  man. 

"  A  great  chief,  with  many  soldiers,  came  to 
drive  us  away.  I  went  to  the  prophet,  who  told 
me  not  to  be  afraid.  They  only  wanted  to  frighten 
us,  and  get  our  land  without  paying  for  it.  1  had 
a  talk  with  the  great  chief.  He  said  if  I  would 
go,  well.  If  I  would  not,  he  would  drive  me. 
*  Who  is  Black  Hawk  ?*  said  he.  *  I  am  a 
Sac,'  said  I ;  'my  forefather  was  a  Sac ;  and 
all  the  nation  call  me  a  Sac'  But  he  said  I 
should  go. 

"I  crossed  the  Mississippi  with  my  people, 
during  the  night,  and  we  held  a  council.  I 
touched  the  goose  quill  again,  and  they  gave  us 
some  corn,  but  it  was  soon  gone.  Then  our  wo- 
men and  children  cried  '>ut  for  the  roasted  ears, 
the  beans,  and  squashes  they  had  been  used  to, 
and  some  of  our  braves  went  back  in  the  night, 

7 


{^: 


r 


74 


THE  INDIANS   OP 


to  tak^  some  corn  from  our- own  fields;  rfie  whites 
saw  and  fired  upon  them. 

"  I  wished  our  great  American  father  to  do  us 
justice.  I  wished  to  go  to  him  with  others,  but 
difficulties  were  thrown  in  the  way.  I  consulted 
the  prophet,  and  recruited  my  bands  to  take  my 
village  again ;  for  I  knew  that  it  had  been  sold 
by  a  few.,  without  the  consent  of  the  many.  It 
was  a  cheat.  I  said,  *  I  will  not  leave  the  place 
of  my  fathers.' 

"  With  ray  braves  and  warriors,  on  horseback, 
I  moved  up  the  river,  and  took  with  us  our  women 
and  children  in  canoes.  Our  prophet  was  among 
us.  The  great  war  chief.  White  Beaver,  sent 
twice^  to  tell  us  to  go  back  ;  and  that,  if  we  did 
not,  he  would  come  and  drive  us.  Black  Hawk's 
message  was  this :  *  If  you  wish  to  fight  us,  come 
on.' 

"  We  were  soon  at  war ;  but  I  did  not  wish 
it :  I  tried  to  be  at  peace  ;  but  w^hen  I  sent  par- 
ties, with  a  white  flag,  some  of  my»parties  were 
shot  down.  The  w^hites  behaved  ill  to  me,  they 
forced  me  into  war,  with  five  hundred  warriors, 
when  they  had  against  us  three  or  four  thousand. 
I  often  beat  them,  driving  back  hundreds,  with  a 
few  braves,  not  half  their  number.  W"e  moved  on 
to  the  Four  Lakes. 

"  I  made  a  dog  feast  before  I  left  my  camp. 
Before  my  braves  feasted,  I  took  my  great  medi- 
cine bag,  and  made  a  speech  to  my  people ;  this 
was  my  speech  : — 

"  *  Braves  and  warriors !  these  are  the  medicine 
bags  of  our  forefather,  Muk-a-t^-quet,  who  was 


# 


■i*i*!ft  ' 


NdRTH  AMERICA. 


75 


)rs, 


on 


us 


ne 

ras 


% 


ine  father  of  the  Sac  nation.  They  were  handed 
down  to  the  great  war  chief  of  our  nation,  Na-ni- 
ma-kee,  who  has  been  at  war  with  all  the  nations 
of  the  lakes,  and  all  the  nations  of  the  plains,  and 
they  have  never  yet  been  disgraced.  I  expect 
you  all  to  protect  them.' 

"  We  went  to  Mos-co-ho-co-y-nak,  where  the 
whites  had  built  a  fort.  We  had  several  battles ; 
but  the  whites  so  much  outnumbered  us,  it  was 
in  vain.  We  had  not  enough  to  eat.  We  dug 
roots,  and  pulled  the  bark  from  trees,  to  keep  us 
alive ;  some  of  our  old  people  died  of  hunger. 
I  determined  to  remove  our  women  across  the 
Mississippi,  that  they  might  return  again  to  the 
Sac  nation. 

"  We  arrived  at  the  Ouisconsin,  and  had  begun 
crossing  over,  when  the  enemy  came  in  great 
force.  We  had  either  to  fight,  or  to  sacrifice  our 
women  and  children.  I  was  mounted  on  a  fine 
horse,  and  addressed  my  warriors,  encouraging 
them  to  be  brave.  With  fifty  of  them  I  fought 
long  enough  to  let  our  women  cross  the  river, 
losing  only  six  men ;  this  was  conduct  worthy  a 
brave.  ^ 

"  It  was  sad  for  us  that  a  party  of  soldiers  from 
Prairie  du  Chien  were  stationed  on  the  Ouiscon- 
sin, and  these  fired  on  our  distressed  women  :  was 
this  brave  ?  No.  Some  were  killed,  some  taken 
prisoners,  and  the  rest  escaped  into  the  woods. 
After  many  battles,  I  found  the  white  men  too 
strong  for  us ;  and  thinking  there  would  be  no 
peace  while  Black  Hawk  was  at  the  head  of  his 
braves,  I  gave  myself  up  and  my  great  medicine 


.*ti 


.MMtlk. 


f/  ? 


f3>    ■ 


»    I 


76 


^ 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


bag.  *  Take  it,'  said  I.  *  It  is  the  soul  of  the 
Sac  nation  :  it  has  never  been  dishonoured  in  any 
battle.  Take  it ;  it  is  my  life,  dearer  than  life ; 
let  it  be  given  to  the  great  American  chief.' 

**  I  understood  afterwards,  a  large  party  of  Sioux 
attacked  our  women,  children,  and  people,  who 
had  crossed  the  Mississippi,  and  killed  sixty  of 
them :  this  was  hard,  and  ought  not  to  have  been 
allowed  by  the  whites. 

"  I  was  sent  to  Jefferson  Barracks,  and  after- 
wards to  my  great  American  father  at  Washington. 
He  wanted  to  know  why  I  went  to  war  with  his 
people.  I  said  but  litde,  for  I  thought  he  ought 
to  h^ve  known  why  before,  and  perhaps  he  did  ; 
perhaps  he  knew  that  I  was  deceived  and  forced 
into  war.  His  wigwam  is  built  very  strong.  I 
think  him  to  be  a  good  little  man,  and  a  great 
brave. 

"  I  was  treated  well  at  all  the  places  I  passed 
through ;  Louisville,  Cincinnati,  and  Wheeling ; 
and  afterwards  at  Fortress  Monroe,  Baltimore,  Phi- 
ladelphia, and  the  big  village  of  New  York ;  and 
I  was  allowed  to  return  home  again  to  my  people, 
of  whom  Kee-o-kuk,  the  Running  Fox,  is  now 
the  chief.  I  sent  for  my  great  medicine  bag,  for 
I  wished  to  hand  it  down  unsullied  to  my  nation, 

"  It  has  been  said  that  Black  Hawk  murdered 
women  and  children  among  the  whites ;  but  it  is 
not  true.  When  the  white  man  takes  my  hand, 
he  takes  a  hand  that  has  only  been  raised  against 
warriors  and  braves.  It  has  always  been  our  cus- 
tom to  receive  the  stranger,  and  to  use  him  well. 
The  white  man  shall  ever  be  welcome  among  us 


'~A 


\ 

c 


%' 


l\ 


o 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


77 


>hi- 

and 
[pie, 

lOW 

for 


as  a  brother.  "What  is  done  is  past ;  we  have 
buried  the  tomahawk,  and  the  Sacs  and  Foxes 
and  Americans  will  now  be  friends. 

'*As  I  said,  I  am  an  old  man,  and  younger 
men  must  take  my  place.  A  few  more  snows, 
and  I  shall  go  where  my  fathers  are.  It  is  the 
wish  of  the  heart  of  Black  Hawk,  that  the  Great 
Spirit  may  keep  the  red  men  and  pale  faces  in 
peace,  and  that  the  tomahawk  may  be  buried  for 


ever. 


j> 


Austin,  Poor  Black  Hawk !  He  went  through 
a  great  deal.  And  Kee-o-kuk,  the  Running  Fox, 
was  made  chief  instead  of  him. 

Hunter,  Kee-o-kuk  was  a  man  more  inclined 
to  peace  than  war ;  for,  while  Black  Hawk  was 
fighting,  he  kept  two-thirds  of  the  tribe  in  peace. 
The  time  may  come,  when  Indians  may  love 
peace  as  much  as  they  now  love  war ;  and  when 
the  "peace  of  God  which  passeth  all  understand- 
ing" may  "  keep  their  hearts  and  minds  in  the 
knowledge  and  love  of  God,  and  of  his  Son  Jesus 
Christ  our  Lord,"  *        ii= 

Austin.  Now,  just  before  we  go,  will  you 
please  to  tell  us  a  little  about  a  buffalo  hunt;  just 
a  little,  and  then  we  shall  talk  about  it,  and  about 
Black  Hawk,  all  the  way  home. 

Hunter,  Well,  it  must  be  a  short  account  now ; 
perhaps  I  may  describe  another  hunt,  more  at 
length,  another  time.  In  hunting  the  buffalo,  the 
rifle,  the  lance,  and  the  bow  and  arrow  are  used, 
as  the  case  may  be.  I  have  hunted  with  the  Ca- 
manchees  in  the  Mexican  provinces,  who  are 
famous  horsemen ;  with  the  Sioux,  on  the  Missis- 


78 


THE  INDIANS   OF 


sippi ;  the  Crows,  on  the  Yellow-stone  river ;  and 
the  Pawnees,  at  the  Rocky  Mountains.  One 
morning,  when  among  the  Crows,  a  muster  took 
place  for  a  buffalo  hunt :  you  may  be  sure  that  I 
joined  them,  for  at  that  time  I  was  almost  an  In- 
dian myself. 

Jlustin.     How  did  you  prepare  for  the  hunt  ? 

Hunter.  As  soon  as  we  had  notice,  from  the 
top  of  a  bluff*  in  the  distance,  that  a  herd  of 
buffaloes  was  on  the  prairie,  we  prepared  our 
horses  ;  while  some  Indians  were  directed  to  fol- 
low our  trail,  with  one-horse  carts,  to  bring  home 
the  meat. 

Brian.  You  were  sure,  then,  that  you  should 
kill  some  buffaloes. 

Hunter.  Yes ;  we  had  but  little  doubt  on  that 
head.  I  threw  off* my  cap  ;  stripped  off* my  coat; 
tying  a  handkerchief  round  my  head,  and  another 
round  my  waist ;  rolled  up  my  sleeves ;  hastily 
put  a  few  bullets  in  my  mouth,  and  mounted  a 
fleet  horse,  armed  with  a  rifle  and  a  thin,  long 
spear  i-  but  most  of  the  Crows  had  also  bows  and 
arrows. 
^  Basil.    Your  thin  spear  w^ould  soon  be  broken. 

Hunter.  No  ;  these  thin,  long  spears  are  some- 
times used,  in  buffalo  hunting,  for  years  without 
breaking.  When  an  Indian  chases  a  buffalo,  if 
he  does  not  use  his  rifle  or  bow  and  arrow,  he 
rides  on  fast  till  he  comes  up  with  his  game,  and 
makes  his  horse  gallop  just  the  same  pace  as  the 
buffalo.  Every  bound  his  horse  gives,  the  Indian 
keeps  moving  his  spear  backwards  and  forwards 
across  the  pommel  of  his  saddle,  with  the  point 


\ 


f 


w 


M 


f4 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


79 


:en. 

lOUt 

,if 
he 

land 
the 
lian 
irds 
)int 


1 


sideways  towards  the  buffalo.  He  gallops  on  in 
this  way,  saying  "  Whish !  whish !"  every  time 
he  makes  a  feint,  until  he  finds  himself  in  just  the 
situation  to  inflict  a  deadly  wound ;  then,  in  a 
moment,  with  all  his  strength,  he  plunges  in  his 
lance,  quick  as  lightning,  near  the  shoulders  of 
the  buflfalo,  and  withdraws  it  at  the  same  instant ; 
the  lance,  therefore,  is  not  broken,  th')Ui>h  the 
buffalo  may  be  mortally  wounded. 

Brian.     The  poor  buflalo  has  no  chance  at  all. 

Jiustin.  Well !  you  mounted  your  horse,  and 
rode  off  at  full  gallop — 

Hunter.  No  ;  we  walked  our  steeds  all  abreast, 
until  we  were  seen  by  the  herd  of  buffaloes.  On 
catching  sight  of  us,  in  an  instant  they  set  off, 
and  we  after  them  as  hard  as  we  could  drive,  a 
clo'.  d  of  dust  rising  from  the  prairie,  occasioned 
y    the  trampling  hoofs  of  the  buffaloes. 

Basil.     What  a  scamper  there  must  be !  -  - 

Hunter.  Rifles  were  flashing,  bowstrings  were 
twanging,  spears  w^ere  dashed  into  the  fattest  of 
the  herd,  and  buffaloes  were  fading  in  all  direc- 
tions. Here  was  seen  an  Indian  rolling  on  the 
ground,  and  there  a  horse  gored  to  death  by  a. 
buffalo  bull.  I  brought  down  one  of  the  largest 
of  the  herd  with  my  rifle,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
hunt ;  and,  before  it  was  ended,  we  had  as  many 
buffaloes  as  we  knew  what  to  do  with.  Some  of 
the  party  had  loaded  their  rifles  four  or  five  times, 
-while  at  full  gallop,  bringing  down  a  buffalo  at 
every  fire. 

Very  willingly  would  Austin  have  lingered  long^ 
enough  to  hear  of  half  a  dozen  buffalo  hunts  5|..r 


,-»j. 


.«^^ 


1-^, 


80 


THE   INDIANS   OF 


J 


but,  bearing  in  mind  what  had  been  said  about  a 
longer  account  at  another  time,  he  cordially 
thanked  the  hunter  for  all  he  had  told  them,  and 
set  off  home,  with  a  light  heart,  in  earnest  con- 
versation with  his  brothers. 


«" 


t: 


mm 


.  ^, 


s?^' 


•«i' 


r/'^* 


iif- 


r:?-!^ 


•<* 


<lft 


■M 


I  0 


# 


♦  ■■^-•. . 


"lii 


■.T^., 


V 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


out  a 

lially 

,  and 

coil- 


\  . 


^■f 


»*,' 


CHAPTER  VI. 

* 
J,      The  description  of  the  bufTalo  hunt,  given  by 

the  hunter,  made  a  deep  impression  on  the  minds 
of  the  young  people ;  and  the  manner  of  using 
the  long,  thin  lance  called  forth  their  \yonder,  an^ 
excited  their  emulation.  Austm  became  a  Camr" 
chee  from  the  Mexican  provinces,  the  Cam 
chees  being  among  the  most  expert  lancers 
horsemen  ;  Brian  called  himself  a  Siouy,  from  t]te 
Mississippi ;  and  Basil  styled  himself  a  i?awned| 
from  the  Rocky  Mountains.  *  ■iy'^  «  i. 
^..■  Many  were  the  plans  and  expedients  to  get  up 
a  buffalo  hunt  upon  a  large  scale,  but  the  difficulty 
of  procuring  buffaloes  was  insurmountable.  Aus- 
tin, it  is  true,  did  suggest  an  inroad  among  the 
flock  of  sheep  of  a  neighbouring  far4i|r|  main- 


■:t 


'*ii\ 


1 


" tMI»|iill.JlH' 


V    , 


?! 


*. 


f^ 


"''^i^ 


82 


THE   INDIANS   OF 


^M 


taining  that  the  scampering  of  the  sheep  woulii 
very  much  resemble  the  flight  of  a  herd  of  bufla 
loes;  but  this  suggestion  was  given  up,  on  the 
ground  that  the  fanner  might  not  think  it  so  enter- 
taining an  amusement  as  they  did. 

It  "was  doubtful,  at  one  time,  whether,  in  their 
extremity,  they  should  not  be  compelled  to  con- 
vert the  chairs  and  tables  into  buffaloes ;  but 
Au^'^in,  whose  heart  was  in  the  thing,  had  a  bright 
thought,  which  received  universal  approbation. 
This  was  to  make  buffaloes  of  their  playfellow 
Jowler,  the  Newfoundland  dog,  and  the  black 
tom-cat.  Jowler,  with  his  shining  shaggy  skin, 
was  sure  to  make  a  capital  buffalo ;  and  Black 
Tom  would  do  very  well,  as  buffaloes  were  not 
all  of  one  size.  To  work  they  went  immediately,  . 
to  prepare  themselves  for  their  adventurous  ' 
undertaking,  dressing  themselves  up  for  the 
approaching  enterprise ;  and,  if  they  did  not  i 
succeed  in  making  themselves  look  like  Indians, 
they  certainly  did  present  a  most  grotesque 
appearance.  ^ 

.  In  the  best  projects,  however,  there  is  oflen- 
*mes  an  oversight,  which  bids  fair  to  ruin  the 
"whole  undertaking ;  and  so  it  was  on  this  occa- 
sion ;  for  it  never  occurred  to  them,  until  they 
were  habited  as  hunters,  to  secure  the  attendance 
of  Jowler  and  Black  Tom.  Encumbered  with 
their  lances,  bows,  arrows  and  hanging  dresses, 
they  had  to  search  the  whole  house,  from  top  to 
bottom,  in  quest  of  Black  Tom  ;  and  when  he  was 
found,  a  like  search  was  made  for  Jowler.  Both 
Jowler  and  Black  Tom  were  at  length  found,  and 


^ 


#■ 


•- "  m 


JfT-.... 


a"> 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


83 


led  forth  to  the  lawn,  "which  was  considered  to  be 
an  excellent  prairie. 

No  sooner  was  the  signal  given  for  the  hunt  to 
commence,  than  Black  Tom,  being  set  at  liberty, 
instead  of  acting  his  part  like  a  buffalo,  as  he 
ought  to  have  done,  scampered  across  the  lawh 
to  the  shrubbery,  and  ran  up  a  tree  ;  while  Jowler 
made  a  rush  after  hiri ;  so  that  the  hunt  appeared 
to  have  ended  ^.Imost  as  soon  as  it  was  begun. 
Jowler  was  brought  back  again  to  the  middle  of 
the  lawn,  but  no  one  could  prevail  on  Black  Tom 
to  descend  from  his  eminence. 

Once  more  Jowler,  the  buffalo,  was  set  at 
liberty;  and  Austin,  Brian,  and  Basil,  the  Caman- 
chee,  Sioux,  and  Pawnee  chieftains,  brandished 
their  long  lances,  preparing  for  the  chase  :  but  it 
seemed  as  though  they  v/ere  to  be  disappointed, 
for  Jowler,  instead  of  running  away,  according 
to  the  plan  of  the  hunters,  provokingly  kept  leap- 
ing up,  first  at  one,  and  then  at  another  of  them ; 
until  having  overturned  the  Pawnee  on  the  lawn, 
and  put  the  Sioux  and  Camanchee  out  of  all 
patience,  he  lay  down  panting,  with  his  long  red 
tongue  out  of  his  mouth,  looking  at  them  just  as 
though  he  had  acted  his  part  of  the  affair  capitally. 

At  last,  not  being  able  to  reduce  the  refractory 
Jowler  to  obedience,  no  other  expedient  remained 
than  that  one. of  them  should  act  the  part  of  a 
buffalo  himself.  Austin  was  very  desirous  that 
this  should  be  done  by  Brian  or  Basil ;  but  they 
insisted  that  he,  being  the  biggest,  was  most  like 
a  buffalo.  The  affair  was  at  length  compromised, 
by  each  agreeing  to  play  the  buffalo  in  turn.    A 


M 


-e>I 


:.^;:: 


m 


if,     -■ 


¥ 


'\   pf 


m 


if 


:'.i 


'tiir 


i  r-^=-' 


% 


%' 


W- 


^.'  ■ 


84 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


desperate  hunt  then  took  place,  in  the  course  of 
which  their  long  lances  were  most  skilfully  and 
effectually  used ;  three  buffaloes  were  slain,  and 
the  Camanchee,  Sioux,  aud  Pawnee  returned  in 
triumph  from  the  chase,  carrying  a  buffalo-hide  (a 
rug  mat  from  the  hall)  on  the  tops  of  their  spears. 

On  their  next  visit  to  the  hunter,  they  reminded 
him  that,  the  last  time  he  saw  them,  he  had  in- 
tended to  speak  about  the  prairies ;  but  that  the 
history  of  Black  Hawk,  and  the  account  of  th«' 
buffalo  hunt,  had  taken  up  all  the  time.  They 
told  him  that  they  had  come  early,  on  purpose  to 
hear  a  long  account;  and,  perhaps,  be  would  be 
*  able  to  tell  them  ail  about  Nikkancchee  into  the 
bargain. 

The  hunter  replied,  if  that  was  the  case,  the 
sooner  he  began  his  narrative  the  better;  so, 
without  loss  of  time,  he  thus  commenced  his 
account. 

Hunter.  Though  in  our  country  there  are 
dull,  monotonous  rivers,  with  thick  slimy  waters, 
stagnant  swamps,  and  pine  forests  almost  im- 
raeasureable  in  extent ;  yet,  still,  some  of  the 
most  beautiful  and  delightful  scenes  in  the  whole 
world  are  here. 

Austin.  How  big  are  the  prairies  ?  I  want  to 
know  more  about  them. 

Hunter.  They  extend  for  many  hundreds  of  miles, 
though  not  without  being  divided  and  diversified 
with  other  scenery.  Mountains  and  valleys,  and 
forests  and  rivers,  vary  the  appearance  of  the 
country.  The  name  prahie  was  given  to  the 
plains  of  North  America  by  the  French  settlers. 


; 


:-::^. 


KORTH  AMERICA. 


85 


lurse  of 
uUy  and 
ain,  and 
irned  in 
)-hide  (a 
r  spears, 
erainded 
had  in- 
that  the 
It  of  th«^ 
.  They 
irpose  to 
^'ould  be 
into  the 


case,  the 
ter ;  so, 
ced  his 


lere  are 
waters, 

lost  im- 
of  the 
"whole 

rant  to 

ff  miles, 

rersified 

rs,  and 

of  the 

to  the 

kttlers. 


It  is  the  French  word  for  meadow.  I  will 
describe  some  prairie  scenes  which  have  particu- 
larly struck  me.  These  vast  plains  are  sometimes 
flat ;  sometimes  undulated,  like  the  large  waves 
of  the  sea;  sometimes  barren  ;  sometimes  covered 
with  flowers  and  fruit;  and  sometimes  there  is 
grass  growing  on  them  eight  or  ten  feet  high. 

Brian,  I  never  heard  of  such  high  grass  as 
that. 

Hunter.  A  prairie  on  fire  is  one  of  the  most  im- 
posing spectacles  you  can  imagine.  The  flame  is 
urged  on  by  the  winds,  running  and  spreading 
out  with  swiftness  and  fury,  roaring  like  a  tem- 
pest, and  driving  before  it  deer,  wolves,  horses, 
and  buffaloes,  in  wild  confusion. 

Austin.  How  I  should  like  to  see  a  prairie  on 
fire !  - 

Hunter.  In  Missouri,  Arkansas,  Indiana,  and 
Louisiana,  prairies  abound  ;  and  the  whole  State 
of  Illinois  is  litde  else  than  a  vast  prairie.  From 
the  Falls  of  the  Missouri  to  St.  Louis,  a  constant 
succession  of  prairie  and  river  scenes,  of  the  most 
interesting  kind,  meet  the  eye.  Here  the  rich 
green  velvet  turf  spreads  out  immeasurably  wide ; 
breaking  towards  the  river  into  innumerable  hills 
and  dales,  bluffs  and  ravines,  where  mountain 
goats  and  wolves  and  antelopes  and  elks  and 
buffaloes  and  grizzly  bears  roam  in  unrestrained 
liberty.  At  one  time,  the  green  bluff  slopes 
easily  down  to  the  water's  edge  ;  while,  in  other 
places,  the  ground  at  the  edge  of  the  river  pre- 
sents to  the  eye  an  endless  variety  of  hill  and 
bluff  and  crag,  taking  the  shapes  of  ramparts  and 

8 


?,.'    , 


H 


•  ■ 


'..% 


,  \ 


II    i 

If 


86  THE   INDIANS   OF 

ruins,  of  columns,   porticoes,  terraces,   dom^cs, 
towers,   citadels  and    castles;   while  here  and 


'in 


^'w 


'J- 


there  seems  to  rise  a  solitary  spire,  which  might 
"well  pass  for  the  work  of  human  hands.  But  the 
whole  scene,  varying  in  colour,  and  lit  up  and 
gilded  by  the  mid-day  sun,  speaks  to  the  heart  of 
the  spectator,  convincing  him  that  none  but  an 
Almighty  hand  could  thus  clothe  the  wilderness 
with  beauty. 

Austin,  Brian !  Do  you  not  wish  now  to  see 
the  prairies  of  North  America  ? 

Brian.  Yes ;  if  I  could  see  them  without  going 
among  the  ^  mahawks  and  scalping-knives. 

Hunter,     remember  one  part  where  the  ragged 


-^-M^' 


NORTH    AMERICA. 


iwi 


87 


cliffs  and  cone-like  bluffs,  partly  washed  away  by 
the  rains,  and  partly  crumbled  down  by  the  frosts, 
seemed  to  be  composed  of  earths  of  a  mineral 
kind,  of  clay  of  different  colours  and  of  red 
pumice  stone.  The  clay  was  white,  brown,  yel- 
low and  deep  blue ;  while  the  pumice  stone,  lit 
up  by  the  sunbeam,  was  red  like  vermilion.  The 
loneliness,  the  wildness  and  romantic  beauty  of 
the  scene  I  am  not  likely  to  forget. 

Basil,  I  should  like  to  see  those  red  rocks  very 
Tiuch. 

Hunter.  For  six  days  I  once  continued  my  ' 
course,  with  a  party  of  Indians,  across  the  prairie, 
without  setting  my  eyes  on  a  single  tree,  or  a 
single  hill  affording  variety  to  the  scene.     Grass,  '^^ 
wild  flowers,  and  strawberries,  abounded   more 
or  less   through   the   whole   extent.     The   spot 
where    we    found    ourselves   at   sundown,    ap- 
peared to  be  exactly  that  from  which  we  started 
at  sunrise.     There  was  little  variety,  even  in  the 
sky  itself;  and  it  would  have  been  a  relief,  (so 
soon  are  we  Vf  ary  even  of  beauty  itself,)  to  have 
walked  a  mile  over  rugged   rocks,  or  to  have 
forced  our  way  through  a  gloomy  pine  wood,  ot-% 
to  have  climbed  the  sides  of  a  steep  mountain. 

Brian.  I  hardly  think  that  I  should  ever  be  tired 
of  green  grass  and  flowers  anJ  strawberries.  ^  ^ 

Hunter.  Oh  yes,  you  w^  dd.     Variety  in  the  ^ 
works  of  creation  is  a  gift  of  cur  bountiful  Creator,    .F 
for  which  we  are  not  sufficiently  thankful.     Look 
at  the  changing  seasons ;  how  beautifully  they 
vary   the  same  prospect!     And    the   changing 
doiids  of  heaven,  too ;  what  an  infinite  and  plea- 


-ri-wtt-^ 


*^> 


<l 


fli 


l!H 


88 


THE   INDIANS   OF 


surable  variety  they  afford  to  us!  Tf  the  world 
were  all  sunshine,  we  should  long  for  the  shade. 

.Austin.  What  do  you  mean  by  bluffs  ? 

Hunter.  Round  hills,  or  huge  clayey  mounds, 
often  covered  with  grass  and  flowers  to  the  very 
top.  Sometimes  they  have  a  verdant  turf  on  their 
tops,  while  their  sides  display  a  rich  variety  of 
mar.y  coloured  earths,  and  thousands  of  gypsum 
eryj.ials  imbedded  in  the  clay.  The  rcmantic 
mixture  of  bluffs,  and  hills,  with  summits  of  green 
grass  as  level  as  the  top  of  a  table,  with  huge 
frf  »^menls  of  pumice  stone  and  cinders,  the  remains 
f.f  burning  mountains,  and  granite  sand,  and  layers 
ot  different  coloured  clay,  and  cornelian,  and 
agate,  and  jasper-like  pebbles;  these,  with  the 
various  animals  that  graze  or  prowl  among  them, 
and  the  rolling  river,  and  a  bright  blue  sky,  have 
afforded  me  bewildering  delight.  Some  of  the 
hunters  and  trappers  believe  that  the  great  valley 
of  the  Missouri  was  once  level  with  the  tops  of 
the  table  hills,  and  that  the  earth  has  been  washed 
away  by  the  river,  and  other  causes;  but  the 
subject  is  involved  in  much  doubi.  It  has 
pleased  God  to  put  a  boundary  to  the  knowledge 
of  man  in.  raany  things.  I  think  I  ought  to  tell 
you  of  Iloyd's  grave. 

Austin.   Where  was  it?     Who  V;?.<?  Floyd. 

Hunter.  You  shall  hear.  In  the  celebrated  ex- 
pedition of  Clark  and  Lewis  to  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, they  were  accompanied  by  Serjeant  Floyd, 
who  died  on  the  way.  His  body  was  carried  to 
the  top  of  a  high  green-carpeted  bluff,  on  the 
Wlisspuri  river,  and  there  buried,  and  a  cedar  post 


-^'. 

* 


■*1 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


89 


was  erected  to  his  memory.  As  I  sat  on  his 
grave^  and  looked  around  me,  the  stillness  and 
the  extreme  beauty  of  the  scene  much  affected  me. 
I  had  endured  much  toil,  both  in  hunting  and 
rowing ;  sometimes  being  in  danger  from  the 
grizzly  bears,  and,  at  others,  with  difficulty 
escaping  the  war-parties  of  the  Indians.  My 
rifle  had  been  busy,  and  the  swan  and  the  pelican, 
the  antelope  and  the  elk,  had  supplied  me  with 
food ;  and  as  I  sat  on  a  grave,  in  that  beautiful 
bluff  in  the  wilderness — the  enamelled  prairie,  the 
thousand  grassy  hills  that  were  visible,  with  their 
golden  heads  and  long  deep  shadows,  (for  the 
sun  was  setting,)  and  the  Missouri  winding  in  its 
serpentine  course,  the  whole  scene  was  of  the 
most  beautiful  and  tranquil  kind.  The  soft  whis- 
pering of  the  evening  breeze,  and  the  distant,  sub- 
dued and  melancholy  howl  of  the  wolf,  were  the 
only  sounds  that  reached  my  ears.  It  was  a  very 
solitary,  and  yet  a  very  delightful  hour. 

Basil,  I  should  not  like  to  be  by  myself  in  such 
a  place  as  that. 

Hunter.  There  is  another  high  bluff,  not  many 
miles  from  the  cedar  post  of  poor  Floyd,  that  is 
well  known  as  the  burial-place  of  Blackbird,  a 
famous  chief  of  the  0-ma-haw  tribe ;  the  manner 
of  his  burial  was  extremely  strange.  As  I  was 
pulling  up  the  river,  a  traveller  told  me  the  story ; 
and,  when  I  had  heard  it,  we  pushed  our  canoe 
into  ?i  small  creek,  that  I  might  visit  the  spot. 
Climbing  up  the  velvet  sides  of  the  bluff,  I  sat  me 
down  by  the  cedar  post  on  the  grave  of  Black- 
bird. 

8*  ^'    ■ 


I!  I 


; 


1 

¥ 

J 

li 

IT  i 

w 

K  ^ 

I  f    ■ 

1 

n   ^ 

r 

H  it 

f 


90 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


Austin.  But  what  was  the  stopy  ?  What  was 
there  strange  in  the  burial  of  the  ehief  ? 

Hunter,  Blackbird  on  his  way.  home  from  the 
city  of  Washington,  where  he  had  been,  died 
with  the  small-pox.  Before  his  d^ath,  he  desired 
his  warriors  to  bury  him<  on  the  blufl*,  sitting  on 
the  back  of  his  favourite  war-horse,  that  he  might 
see,  as  he  said,  the  Frenchmen  boating  up  and 
down  the  river.  His  beautiful  white  steed  was 
led  up  to  the  top  of  the  bluff,  and  there  the  body 
of  Blackbird  was  placed  astride  upon  him. 

Brian,  What  a  strange  thing ! 

Hunter,  Blackbird  had  his  bow  in  his  hand, 
his  beautiful  head  dress  of  war-eagle  plumes  on 
his  head,  his  shield  and'  quiver  at  his  side,  and 
his  pipe  and  medicine  bag.  His  tobacco  pouch 
was  filled,  to  supply  him  on  his  journey  to  the 
hunting-grounds  of  his  fathers  ;  and  he  had  flint 
and  steel  wherewith  to  light  his  pipe  by  the  way. 
Every  warrior  painted  his  hand  with  vermilion, 
and  then  pressed  it  against  the  white  horse,  leav- 
ing a  mark  behind  him.  After  the  necessary 
ceremonies  had  been  performed,  Blackbird  and 
his  white  war-horse  were  covered  over  with  turf, 
till  they  were  no  more  seen. 

Austin.  But  was  the  white  horse  buried  alive  ? 

Hunter,  He  was.  The  turfs  were  put  about 
his  feet,  then  piled  up  his  legs,  then  placed  against 
his  sitles,  then  over  his  back,  and  lastly  over 
Blackbird  himself  and  his  war-eagle  plumes. 

Brian,  That  was  a  very  cruel  deed !  They 
had  no  business  to  smother  that  beautiful  white 
horse  in  that  way. 


v-,**" 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


91 


way. 

lilion, 

leav- 


turf, 

ilive  ? 

ibout 

gainst 

over 

'hey 
rliite 


Basil,  And  so  I  say.  It  was  a  great  shame, 
and  I  do  not  like  that  Blackbird. 

Hunter.  Indians  have  strange  customs.  Now 
T  am  on  the  subject  of  prairie  scenes,  I  ought  to 
speak  a  word  of  the  prairies  on  the  Red  River. 
I  had  been  for  some  time  among  the  Creeks  and 
Choctaws,  crossing,  here  and  there,  ridges  of 
wooded  lands,  and  tracts  of  rich  herbage,  with 
blue  mountains  in  the  distance,  when  I  came  to 
a  prairie  scene  of  a  new  character.  For  miles 
together  the  ground  was  covered  with  vines, 
bearing  endless  clusters  of  large  delicious  grapes ; 
and  then,  after  crossing  a  few  broad  valleys  of 
green  turf,  our  progress  was  stopped  by  hundreds 
of  acres  of  plum  trees,  bending  to  the  very 
ground  with  their  fruit.  Among  these  were  inter- 
spersed patches  of  rose  trees,  wild  currants,  and 
gooseberries,  with  prickly  pears,  and  the  most 
beautiful  and  sweet-scented  wild  flowers. 

Austin.  I  never  heard  of  so  delightful  a  place. 
What  do  you  think  of  the  prairies  now,  Basil  ? 
Should  you  not  like  to  gather  some  of  those 
fruits  and  flowers,  Brian  ? 

Hunter.  And  then  just  as  I  was  stretching  out 
my  hand  to  gather  some  of  the  delicious  produce 
of  that  paradise  of  fruit  and  flowers,  I  heard  the 
sound  of  a  rattlesnake,  that  was  preparing  to  make 
a  spring,  and  immediately  I  saw  the  glistening 
eyes  of  a  copper-head,  which  I  had  disturbed 
beneath  the  tendrils  and  leaves. 

Basil.  What  do  you  think  of  the  prairie  now, 
Austin  ? 


'-"It- 


# 


'■€3 


t 


^' 


r$^' 


.  i 


92 


'^';^? 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


Brian,  And  should  you  not  like  to  gather  some 
of  those  fruits  and  flowers  ? 

Austin.  I  never  suspected  that  there  would  be 
such  snakes  among  them. 

Hunter.  The  wild  creatures  of  these  delightful 
spots  may  be  said  to  live  in  a  garden  ;  here  they 
pass  their  lives,  rarely  disturbed  by  the  approach 
of  man.  The  hunter  and  the  trapper,  however 
thoughtlessly  they  pursue  their  calling,  are  at 
times  struck  with  the  amazing  beauty  of  the 
scenes  that  burst  upon  them.  God  is  felt  to  be 
in  the  prairie.  The  very  solitude  disposes  the 
mind  to  acknowledge  Him ;  earth  and  skies  pro- 
claim his  presence  ;  the  fruits  of  the  ground  de- 
clare his  bounty ;  and,  in  the  flowers,  ten  thousand 
forget-me-nots  bring  his  goodness  to  remembrance. 
'^  Great  is  the  Lord,  and  greatly  to  be  praised; 
and  his  greatness  i*^;  unsearchable."* 

Austin,  i  could  not  have  believed  that  there 
had  been  such  beautiful  places  in  the  prairies. 

Hunter.  Some  parts  are  varied,  and  others 
monotonous.  Some  are  beautiful,  and  others  far 
from  being  agreeable.  The  Prairie  la  Crosse,  the 
Prairie  du  Chien,  and  the  Couteau  des  Prairies  on 
the  Mississippi,  with  the  prairies  on  the  Missouri, 
all  have  some  points  of  attraction.  I  did  intend 
to  say  a  little  about  Swan  Lake,  the  wild  rice 
grounds.  Lover's  Leap,  the  salt  meadows  on  the 
Missouri,  the  Savannah  in  the  Florida  pine  woods, 
and  Red  Pipe-stone  Quarry ;  but  as  I  intend  to 

*Ps.  cxlv.  3. 


ather  some 

would  be 

delightful 
here  they 
J  approach 
',  however 
ig,  are  at 
ity  of  the 
1  felt  to  be 
sposes  the 
skies  pro- 
jround  de- 
1  thousand 
embrance. 
B  praised; 

that  there 

lairies.       ■  V 
id   others 

lothers  far 

irosse,  the 
*rairies  on    '^ 

[Missouri, 
id  intend 
n\d  rice 
rs  on  the 
[e  woods, 
Intend  to 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


93 


give  you  the  history  of  Nikkanochee,  perhaps  I 
had  better  begin  with  it  at  once. 

Austin,  We  shall  like  to  hear  of  Nikkanochee, 
but  it  is  so  pleasant  to  hear  about  the  prairies, 
that  you  must,  if  you  please,  tell  us  a  little  more 
about  ihem  first. 

Basil.  I  want  to  hear  about  those       lirie  dogs. 

Brian.     And  I  want  to  hear  of  Lover's  Leap. 

Austin.  What  I  wish  to  hear  the  most,  is  about 
Red  Pipe-stone  quan^^MPlease  to  tell  us  a  little 
about  them  all.    ^^1^^^ 

Hunter,  WfjtrU  you  will  be  satisfied  with 
a  little,  I  wifllp  on.  Swan  Lake  is  one  of  the 
most  bealMn  objects  in  the  prairies  of  our 
country.  Tt  extends  for  many  miles;  and  the 
islands  with  which  it  abounds  are  richly  covered 
witfcffc  forest  trees.  Fancy  to  yourselves  unnum- 
bered islands  with  fine  trees,  beautifully  grouped 
ether,  and  clusters  of  swans  on  the  water  in 
ry  direction.  If  you  want  to  play  at  Robinson 
soe,  one  of  the  islands  on  Swan  Lake  will  be 
jl|St  the  place  for  you. 

Basil.     Well  may  it  be  called  Swan  Lake. 

Hunter.  The  first  time  that  I  saw  wild  rice 
^IP^red,  it  much  surprised  and  amused  me.  A 
party  of  Sioux  Indian  women  were  paddling 
about,  near  the  shores  of  a  large  lake,  in  canoes 
made  of  bark.  While  one  woman  paddled  the 
canoe,  the  other  gathered  the  wild  rice,  which 
flourished  there  in  great  abundance.  By  bending 
it  over  the  canoe  with  one  stick,  and  then  striking 
it  with  another ;  the  grains  of  rice  fell  in  profu- 
sion into  the   canoe.     In  this  way  they  pro- 


■:r' 


f 


^ 
^^> 

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Photographic 

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Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(7U)  872-4503 


V 


,^ 


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J 


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f/- 


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v% 


■«f  •* 


J^ 


THE  INDIANS  OP 


«. 


riSa  **^  °^'^-'^  f"'!  cargoes  of  .^ 

J'«»ng  up  hs  aspiring  bead  iTm^  "•  '"'^  ^x^''' 

•wodred  feet  above  thfsurf»lf^f  ?f  <"•  seven 

•y^re  since,  as  (he  s^^Si^"^  ""*'"''«•    Some 

wifshed  his  daughte^PKk'?'"L  "'''*"  ehief 

said  not  Kke.    The  dauehteMl""^  'i""  *''« 

father  insisted;  and  the  nnnrlltef^S"'  «he 

get  rid  of  her  m^lw  ZT'^Wti^  l-ri.  to 

sence  of  her  trSrfrom   h^T  ^'TW  «£«  Pre- 

was  dashed  to  pieced  '"^  °^  *?rock^d 

t£L  ^°*""  S*'''  '"deed !    Her  htU  «J  - 
^m^    man,  laii^r  i|||  a 

-».«  *»  feu"  <S  ffi"?,.""?' 


^. 


ijvr'i*.,  A  - 


# 


HORTB  AMERICA. 


iV^ 


-e^^y 


95 


hot  sun  evapor^ldsf  the  water,  and  tit  Salt  is  ^ft 

behind.  «  '  .|  *  <^'^i, 

Brian,     Well,  that  is^ery  curious. 

Hunter.    Th^jbiiffaloes  andiother  animals  come 
by  thousands  to  nek  the  sal^^^atwhat  with 

less  kn^*4^sconsoi^te ;  but  w^hen,  &t1ter|^HajnJb, 
dq£,  t^rqu^h-  ^pprasses  and  in^Hti^biSp 

pme|g|^sl||l^pi£  t^.^ot^litg.  buyn|cry  of. 

crM|Wb^d%ne  ■'ifl^linjo' ,<^Wblj   ' 

sucKiiioiy^^^  an^oDea  •pianLTc^ve 

carpet' oCjjt^ss  and  mTi 

m  biehtens,-anihe  rBWfe^heerWnesi^ 

gth.  '  Jie *alain^ieeli;' tna^ JTOd  is  in  the  ^^ 

Remeni^er  the  alUfStofs,  Austin !      •       -  / 
nd  the  howUng  wolve^   vWhat  do 
ye^^hink  ofkhem  ?    »         "^  «^    *        ■    ^    .*.  - 

JJ^n^er.    1A  Red  Pipe-stone  Quarry  is  betwelH 
tjie*  Upper  Mresissippi  and  the  Upper  Missouri. 
Jt"  is  thii  pkce  where  t|^  Indians  of  Ufe  country  , 
;^tofcre  the  red  stone  wh  which  they  make  all    * 

pipes.     The  place  is  considered  by  them  to 
l)e^»||N:ed.     They  say  that  the^'Great  Spirit  usdji 
To  sWmd  on  the  rock,  and  that  the  blood  of  iM     ^ 
buffaloes  which  he  ate  ther^  ran  into  1iie  rodltB 
beJow,  and  turned  them  cedd. 


'*>! 


« 


.•*^ 


96 


W^      THE  XNDUN8  OF  ^^ 


,^Hn.    That  is  the  place  I  want  to  see. 

Hunter.  If  vou  go  there,  you  must  take  great 
care  of  yourself;  for  the'  Sioux  i^ill  be  at  your 
heels.    As  I  said,  they  hold  the  place  sacred,  and 


ikch  of  a  white  man  a  kind  of 
lace  isMMLted  by  all  the 


consider  the 

profan 

nei 

then: 

the  6: 

it,  and  the 

harmless. 

on  the<ftpe  Of  the  rocks ;  and  l^S 


ston 
hey  are 
y  they,  alw 


•cq|b  ^d  scalpin 
1^  ti(*hun!lrej ' 


o  make 

ce;  for 

es  over 

kre  there 

"inscriptions 

ild^st  tradi- 

Lhanded  down,  from  father  lib  son,  re- 


tions 

spectiMpe  place,  some  ot  tne  isiqux  s 
the  Gr^  ^irit  oncQ  sent  his  runl^B  ab 
tM  tD^ettN^ttll  the  tribes  that  v^ere^wj 
MtL  Pipi^Stone  Quarry.  J^  he  sto 
m  the  rocks,  he  took  oirt  a  piece  of  re  , 
made  a  large  pipe ;  if^  ftmokeol  it  over 
told  them,  that,  thoij^h  at  war,  the3r  must  d 
be  at  peace  at  thaff^lace,  for  that  it  belong) 
one  as  much  as  another,  and  that  they  musi 
make  their  pipes  of  the  stone.  Having  thus 
spokdB,  a  thick  cloud  of  smoke  |^m  his  great 
red  pipe  rolled  over  them,  and  inA  he  vimished 
away.  Just  at  the  moment  that  1%  took  t^e  last 
whiff  of  his  great,  long,  red  pipe,  the  rocks  were 
wrapped  in  a  blaze  of  fire,  so  that  the  surface  of 
them  was  melted.  Two  squaws,  then,  in  a  #aflli< 
pf  fire,  sunk  under  the  two  medicine  rocks|#^ 
no  one  can  take  away  red  stone  from  the  ^jS^ 
without  their  leave.  Where  the  gospef  is  tin»* 
,  known,  there  is  nothing  too  improbable  to  be 


y 


^' 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


97 


i  great 
t  your 
id,  and 
ind  of 
dl  the 
)  make 
ce ;  for 
is  over 
re  there 
riptions 
it  tradi- 
son,  re- 
ia^4hat 


Ifimshed 
jtjielast 
Iks  "were 
face  of 
.  a  ^h 


is  m^ 
to  be 


received.  The  day  will,  no  doubt,  arrive,  when 
the  wild  traditions  of  Red  Pipe-stone  Quarry  will 
be  done  away,  and  the  folly  and  wickedness  of 
all  such  superstitions  be  plainly  seen.  '  . 

Here  the  hunter,  having  to  attend  his  sheep, 
left  the  three  brothers,  to  amuse  themselves  for 
half  an  hour  with  the  curiosities  in 'his  cottage; 
after  which,  he  returned  to  redeem  his  pledge,  by 
relating  the  history  he  had  promised  them. 


Indian  Pipes. 


1 


.#' 


.), 


'* 


H 


^i. 


.('ft™ 


t1  ' . 


#-' 


m 


ft 

I 


liL^ 


98 


'J- 


;  Jy 


■T'A'.   '^-^i,' 


THE   INDIANS  OP 


("  r. 


liw. 


0>' 


m 


P 


«' 


CHAPTER  VII. 


**And  now,"  said  the  hunter, 
count  of  Nikkanochee.*  I  met  wi 
Florida,  his  own  country,  when  he  was^^mFs^ 
ejiild ;  indeed  he  is  even  now  but  a  boy,  being 
not  more  than  twelve  or  thirteen  years  of  age.  , 
The  Seminole  Indians,  a  mixed  tribe,  from  whom 
prince  Nikkanochee  is  descended,  were  a  warlike 
people,  settled  on  the  banks  of  the  River  Chatta-  • 
hoochee.  In  a  battle  which  took  place  between 
the  Indians  and  a  party  of  whites,  urder  Major 
Pade,  out  of  a  hundred  and  four^n  white  meof^ 
'fthly  two  escaped  the  tomahawks  of  their  oppo-, 
uents.     A  Seminole  was  about  to  despatch  one 

•  This  sketch  is  supposed  to  be  a  narrative  of  facts,^ 
though  the  authority  for  it  is  not  within  the  publishers' 
reach.    • 

AW' 


* 


ih 


',.1    -^  ■■.if-",-5'» 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


99 


of  these  two,  when  he  suddenly  called  to  mind 
that  the  soldier  had  once  helped  him  in  fitting  a 


phi\ed 

red." 

inoles 


ualities ; 


handle  to  his  axe.     This  arrested  ki 
weapon,  and  the  life  of  the  soldier  wa 

Austin.     Noble !  noble !     If  all  the 
w^ere  like  him,  they  were  a  noble  peop! 

Hunter.  The  tribe  had  good  and  \2l^ 
but  I  tell  you  this  anecdote,  becaose*  it  affords 
another  proof  that  the  hardy  Indian  warrior,  in 
the  midst  of  all  his  relentless  animosity  against 
his  enemy,  is  still  sensible  of  a  deed  of  kindness. 
On  another  occasion,  when  the  Seminoles,  to 
avenge  injuries  which  their  tribe  had  received, 
wagted  the  neighbourhood  with  fire  and  toma- 

""     i^^y  respected  the  dwelling  of  •ne  who  ^ 
m    kindness  to   some   of   their  tribe, 
igh  they  visited  his  housje,  and  cooked 
at  his  hearth,  they  did  no  injury  to  his 
Ji"  his  property.     Other  dwellings  around 
it  "were  burned  to  the  ground,  but  for  years  his 
habitation  remained  secure  from  any  attack  on  the 
part  of  the  grateful  Seminoles. 

Basil.     When  I  go  abroad,  I  will  always  be- 
have kindly  to  the  poor  Indians. 

Hunter.  The  fs^er  of  Nikkanocbee  was  king 
of  the  Red  Hills,  ijjthe  country  of  tl^fe  Seminoles ; 
but  {^  being  veJmuch  distinguished  as  a  "war- 
rior, he  gave  j^Jhie  command  of  his  fighting 
men  to  his  iiX\}^  Oseola,  a  chief  famous  for 
1^  bodily  strength  and  courage.  Before  the  war 
PWoke  out  between  the  Seminoles,  Oseola  w^s 
kind  and  generous ;  but  when  once  the  war-cry 
h«id  rung  through  the  woods,  and  the  tomahawk 


«r;.. 


'■'^- 


y«v>Aii)i 


■J"'       '  , 

t-jr-if-  ■■  •■■"air 

s 

100 

THE   INDIANS   OF 

^ 


sii> 


had  been  raised,  he  became  stern  and  implacable. 
He  was  the  champion  of  his  nation,  and  the  terror 
of  the  pale  faces  opposed  to  him. 

Brian^^  He  must  have  made  terrible  work  with 
his  tonil^wk !  ^ 

Mifiter,  No  doubt  he  did,  for  he  was  bold, 
and  had  never  been  taught  to  control  his  passions. 
The  command  of  the  Saviour  had  never  reached 
his  ears :  "  Love  your  enemies,  bless  them  that 
curse  you,  do  good  to  them  that  hate  you,  and 
pray  for  them  which  despitefuUy  use  you,  and 
persecute  you."  The  red  man  of  the  forest  and 
the  prairie  has  had  much  to  embitter  his  spirit 
against  his  enemies ;  but  I  will  proceed.  It  was 
in  the  year  1835,  that  between  two  am"  "^ 
hundred  red  warriors  assembled  at  Cami 
hoW  a  "  talk,"  or  council.  They  wer^ 
battalion  of  white  soldiers,  who  had  twi 

with  them.     At  this  council,  it  was  proj      ^ 

the  whiteVtftat  a  contract  should  be  made  between 
the  two  parties,  wherein  the  Seminoles  should 
give  up  their  lands  in  Florida  in  exchange  for 
other  lands  at  a  great  distance  from  the  place. 
Some  of  the  red  warriors  were  induced  to  make 
a  cross  on  the  contract  as  their  signature,  showing 
that  they  agreed  therewith ;  hut  Oseola  saw  that 
such  a  course  was  bartering  a#Ry  his  country,  and 
sealing  the  ruin  of  his  nation.\ 

JJustin.  I  hope  he  did  not  i$t  his  sign  to  it. 

Brian.  So  do  I,  and  I  hope  he  persuaded  all 
the  rest  of  the  red  warriors  not  to  sign  it. 

Hunter.  When  they  asked  him  in  his  turn  to 
sign  the  contract,  his  lip  began  to  curl  with  con- 


• 


I.- 


Wi 


fe. 


.2:  .,  ... 


f       t""      <v  v-t     >* 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


101 


een 
.uld 
for 
lace, 
lake 
ping 
Ithat 
land 


all  ^ 

w 

to 
fon- 


tempt,  and  his  eye  to  flash  with  fiery  indignation. 
"Yes!"  said  he,  drawing  a  poniard  from  his 
bosom,  with  a  haughty  frown  on  hi%  brow : 
"  Yes!"  said  he,  advancing  and  dashing  his  dag- 
ger while  he  spoke,  not  only  through  the  contract, 
but  also  through  the  table  on  which  it  lay ; 
**  there  is  my  mark !" 

Jiusiin.  Well  done,  brave  Oseola ! 

Bnan,  That  is  just  the  w^ay  that  he  ought  to 
have  acted. 

Basil.  He  w^as  a  very  bold  fellow.  But  what 
did  the  generals  say  to  him  ?  ,^.  r'    > 

Hunter,  His  enemies,  the  whites,  (for  they  were 
enemies,)  directly  seized  him,  and  bound  him  to  a 
tre^^  This  was  done  in  a  cruel  manner,  for  the 
ll  deep  into  his  flesh.  After  this,  he  was 
and  kept  as  a  prisoner  in  solitary  con- 
When  it  was  thought  that  his  spirit 
wiHiliifliciently  tamed,  and  that  what  he  had  suf- 
fered would  operate  as  a  warning  to  his  people, 
he  w^as  set  at  liberty. 

Austin.  The  whites  acted  a  cruel  part,  and  they 
ought  to  have  been  ashamed  of  themselves. 

Brian.  Yes,  indeed.  But  what  did  Oseola  do 
when  he  was  free  ? 

Hunter.  Revenge  is  dear  to  every  one  whose 
heart  God  has  not  changed.  No  wonder  that  it 
should  burn  in  the  bosom  of  an  untaught  Indian. 
He  had  never  heard  the  w^ords  of  Holy  Scripture, 
"Vengeance  is  mine;  I  will  repay,  saith  the 
Lord,"  Rom.  xii.  19 ;  but  rather  looked  on  re- 
venge as  a  virtue.     Hasting  to  his  companions, 

9*     .    ^ 


.^.'S^t-Ji- 


■fr*¥ 


-m^: 


'■ff' 


IMBI 


I  9*^ 


<B*- 


102 


THE   INDIANS  OP 


he  made  the  forest  echo  with  the  wild  war-whoop 
that  he  raised  in  defiance  of  his  enemies. 

Bna^f  I  thought  he  would !  That  is  the  very 
thing  thalJl  expected  he  would  do. 

Hunter.  Many  of  the  principal  whites  fell  by 
the^  rifles  of  the  Indians;  and  Oseola  sent  a  proud 
message  to  General  Clinch,  telling  him  that  the 
Seminoles  had  a  hundred  and  fifty  barrels  of  gun- 
powder, every  grain  of  which  should  be  consumed 
before  they  would  submit  to  the  whites.  He  told 
him,  too,  that  the  pale  faces  should  be  led  a  dance 
for  five  years  for  the  indignities  they  had  put  upon 
him.  Oseola  and  the  Seminoles  maintained  the 
war  until  the  whites  had  lost  eighteen  hundred 
men,  and  expended  vast  sums  of  money.  j\t 
last,  the  brave  chieftain  was  made  pris 
treachery. 

Austin.  How  was  it  ?     How  did  they 
prisoner?  . 

Hunter.  The  whites  invited  Oseola  to  meet 
them,  that  a  treaty  might  be  made,  and  the  war 
brouQ;ht  to  an  end.  Oseola  went  with  his  war- 
riors ;  but  no  sooner  had  he  and  eight  of  his  war- 
riors placed  their  rifles  against  a  tree,  protected  as 
they  thought  by  the  flag  of  truce,  than  they  were 
surrounded  by  a  large  body  of  soldiers,  and  made 
prisoners. 

Brian.  That  was  an  unjust  and  treacherous 
act.     Oseola  ought  to  have  kept«away  from  them. 

Basil.  And  what  did  they  do  to  Oseola  ?  Did 
they  kill  him? 

Hunter.  They  at  first  confined  him  in  the  fort 
at  St.  AuQjustine,  arid  afterwards  in  a  duno;eon  at 


% 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


Sullivan's  Island,  near  Charleston.  It  was-ml|le 
latter  place  that  he  died,  his  head  pillowe#di|'(be 
faithful  bosom  of  his  wife,  who  never  ^bVskijt 
him,  and  never  ceased  to  regard  him  with  homa^ 
and  affection.  He  was  buried  at  i^ort  MdlRtrie, 
where  he  has  a  monument,  inscril|yi^^  Oseola." 
His  companions,  had  they  been  ^I9nt  at  his 
grave,  would  not  have  wep..  They  would  have 
been  glad  that  he  had  escaped  from  his  enemies. 
Austin.  Poor  Oseola!  # 

Hunter,  Thia  is  only  one  instance  among  thou- 
sands, in  which  the  red  man  has  faliep  a  victim 
to  the  treachery  and  injustice  of  the  whites.^,  It 
mn  thought,  that  when  the  grave 
its  dead,  and  Jte^rumpet  aball  call 
ace  to  face,  thew^abitai^M  a|||p|iti 
lent;   the  deceitful,  the  unjust^ l^  tfatt 
I  have  to  meet  those  whom  their  d< 


m-T 


is  a 


f 


their  injustice  and  cruelty  have^^stroyed.     Well 

may  the  oppressor  tremble.  "  Wie  IiOrd  of  hosts 
hath  purposed,  and  who  shall  disannul  it  ?  and  his 
hand  is  stretched  out,  and  who  shall  turn  it 
back?" 

Basil.  But  you  have  not  yet  told  us  of  Nik- 
kanochee.  Please  to  let  us  hear  all  about  him. 
Brian.  Ay ;  we  have  forgotten  Nikkanochee*  ' 
Hunter.  I  will  How  tell  you  all  that  I  know  of 
him  ;  but  I  thought  you  would  like  to  hear  of  his 
uncle,  he  being  to  famous  a  warrioi(ji^j|ikkano- 
chee  is  called  Oseola  Nikkanochee,  ^ince#of  < 
Enonchatti,  in  order  that  he  may  bear  i]^[nind 
Oseola,  his  warlike  uncle,  and  also  Ecoifthatti- 
mico,  king  of  the  Red  Hills,  his  father.     iLis 


,>■■■■ 


*- 


# 


104 


THE   INDIANS   OF 


V- 


m^. 
% 


ougnt  that  Nikkanocheo  was  born  on  the  bankiii 
of  the  river  Chattahoochee.  He  can  just  remem- 
ber ths  death  of  his  mother,  when  he  was  left 
alone  with  her  in  a  wigwam ;  but  what  I  have  to 
tell  j^u  about  Nikkanochee  look  place  during  the 
lifetime  of  hi^ftjjlher,  and  his  uncle  Oseola.  The 
white  mef|«iii|tng  at  war  with  the  Seminoles,  the 
war-men  of  Ore.^ter  were  obliged  to  band  them- 
selves tog(rth6r.  t^  fight,  leaving  their  squaws  and 
children  to  travel  as  well  as  they  could  to  a  place 
of  safety.  Nikkanochee,  child  a$Jie  was,  travelled 
■WT||h  the  ^^omen  through  the  pine  forests  night 
day  |?Jbut  a  party  of  horse-soldiers  overtook 
^'  and  drove  them  as  captives  tow 

|tv^T9panochee  is  a 
be^me  of  huh  now  ? 
»iif«r.,  The  mothers  were  almost  frant 
on  the  ro^d  had  been 
fire,4i?Kf'^fe  whole  country  had  been  de- 
vastated. At  nightfall  they  came  to  a  village ; 
and  here,  when  it  grew  dark,  Nikkanochee,  a 
little  girl  and  two  Indian  women  made  their 
iescape.*  For  sobqc  days  they,  fled,  living  on 
•wrater-melongl  and  Indian  corn,  till  they  fell  in 
"with  a  paraj  of  their  own  war-men,  and  among 
m  w^s  Nikkanochee's  fathefj 
tJiustin.  X\iOY)e  they  were  safe  then. 
JifoiN^fljl^bt being  numerous, 4hey  were  obliged 
to  jretAp!^  T'lirsued  by  their  enemies,  they  fled, 
soitieti^es  on  horseback,  and  sometimes  on  foot ; 
a  pafp)f  the  way,  through  the  swamps,  thickets 
and  pine  forests.    At  jj^ght,  while  the  party  were 


J* 


'^ 


/ 


I 


£'^' 


.;if  f ' 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


105 


bankii 
mem-  , 
IS  left  ^ 
ive  to 
ig  the 

The 
!S,  the 
them- 
m  and 
,  place 
veiled 

night 
ertook  * 
the 


;rl 


I  or 


iraong 


)liged 
fled, 
foot; 

iickets 
were 


-I 


sitting  round  a  fire,  in  the  act  of  preparing  for  re- 
freshment some  dried  meat,  and  a  wild  root  of  the 
woods  reduced  into  Hour,  an  alarm  was  given.  In 
a  moment  they  were  obliged  once  more  to  fly,  for 
their  enemies  were  upon  their  track. 

Brian.  Dreadful !  dreadful ! 

Hunter.  The  fire  was  put  out  by  the  Indians, 
their  blankets  hastily  rolled  up,  and  the  squaws 
and  children  sent  to  hide  themselves  in  the  tangled 
reeds  and  brushwood  of  a  swamp,  while  the  war- 
men  turned  against  the  enemy.  The  Indians  beat 
them  off,  but  I^onchatti-mico  was  wounded  in 
"the  wrist,  a  musket  ball  hriVing  passed  through  it. 

Brian.  Did  Econchatti  die  of  his  wound  ? 

Hunter.  No ;  but  he  and  the  war-men,  expecl- 
ing^at  their  enemies  would  return  in  greater 
nunclk's,  were  again  forced  to  fly.  The  dreary  pine 
►for^^^he  weedy  marsli,  and  the  muddy  swamp 
W'ere  once  more  passed  through.  Brooks  and 
rapid  rivers  were  crossed  by  Econchatti,  wounded 
as  he  was,  with  his  son  on  his  back.  He  swam 
w^ith  one  hand,  for  the  other  was  of  little  use  to 
him. 

Austin.  Econchatti  seems  to  be  as  brave  a  man 
as  Oseola.     Did  they  escape  from  their  enemies.^ 

Hunter,  ^''ailo  they  were  sitting  down  to  par- 
take of  some  wild  turkey  and  deer,  with  which 
their  bows  and  arrows  had  furnished  them  during 
their  flight,  their  enemies  again  fell  upon  them. 
The  Seminoles  had,  perhaps,  altogether  two  thou- 
sand warriors,  with  Oseola  at  their  head ;  but 
then  the  whites  had  at  lea^  ten  thousand,  to  say 
nothing  of  their  being  much  better  armed.     No 


.    Y- 


r^ 


"■  V 


i     # 


.  #^"*»-<'-™ 


106 


THE   INDIANS   OP 


iM 
B*.' 


,t. 


wonder  that  the  Seminoles  were  compelled  to  fly, 
and  only  to  fight  when  they  found  a  favourable 
opportunity.  But  I  must  not  dwell  longer  than 
necessar}'  on  my  account ;  suffice  it  to  say,  that, 
after  all  the  bravery  of  the  warriors,  and  all  the 
exertions  of  Econchatti,  Nikkanochee  once  more 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

Basil.  Oh,  that  was  terrible !  I  hoped  he 
would  get  away  safe. 

Brian,  So  did  I.  I  thought  the  white  men 
would  be  tired  of  following  them  into  those  dreary 
forests  and  muddy  swamps. 

Austin,  How  was  it  that  Nikkanochee  was 
taken  ? 

Hunter.  He  was  captured  on  the  25th  of 
August,  1836,  by  some  soldiers  who  were  scouring 
the  country,  and  brought  by  them  the  neMtLdav 
to  Colonel  Warren.  Poor  little  fellow,  iPwas' 
so  worn,  emaciated  antl  cast  down,  that  he  could 
not  be  looked  upon  without  pity.  For  several 
weieks  he  hardly  spoke  a  word.  No  tear,  no  sob, 
nor  sigh  escaped  him ;  but  he  appeared  to  be 
continually  on  the  watch  to  make  his  escape. 
The  soldiers  who  had  taken  him  prisoner  declared 
that  they  had  followed  his  track  full  forty  miles 
before  they  came  up  to  him.  From  the  rising  to 
the  setting  of  the  sun  they  hurried  on,  and  still  he 
was  before  them.  Nikkanochee  must  then  have 
been  only  about  five  or  six  years  old. 

Basil.  Why,  I  could  not  walk  so  far  as  forty 
miles  to  save  my  life.     How  did  he  manage  it? 

Hunter.  You  have  not  been  brought  up  like  an 
Indian.    Fatigue  and  hardship  and  clanger  are  en- 


•; 
* 


^i.it:ia.  "Jji 


"^W-: 


J*"  ■  '-^ii^ , 


•¥■■ 


J-^rs■ 


■  :<:-«■■ 


he 


scape, 
jlared 
miles 
ingto 
till  he 
have 

forty- 
it? 
Ike  an 
reen- 


#» 


« 


NORTH  AMERICA.  107 

dured  by  red  men  from  their  earliest  infancy.  The 
back  to  the  burden,  Basil.  You  have  heard  the  say- 
ing, "  God  tempers  the  wind  to  the  shorn  lamb." 
"When  the  soldiers  came  up  to  Nikkanochee,  he 
darted  into  the  bushes  and  long  grass,  where 
they  found  him.  At  first,  he  uttered  a  scream ; 
but,  soon  after,  he  offered  the  soldiers  a  peach 
which  he  had  in  his  hand,  that  they  might  let  him 
go.  Placed  on  horseback  behind  one  of  the 
troopers,  he  was  brought  to  the  miUtary  station. 

Brian.  They  have  him  now,  then,  fast  enough. 
I  wonder  what  became  of  Econchatti-mico,  his 
father. 

Hunter.  That  is  not  known.  I  should  have 
told  you  that,  in  the  Seminole  language,  "  Econ,'l 
means  hill  or  hills ;  "  Chatti,"  is  red ;  and  the 
signification  of  "  mico,"  is  king :  so  that  Econ- 
chatti-mico is,  all  together.  King  of  the  Red  Hills. 
The  soldiers  who  captured  Nikkanochee  disputed 
among  themselves  whether  he  ought  not  to  be 
killed.  Most  of  them  were  for  destroying  every 
Indian  man,  woman,  or  child  they  met ;  but  one 
of  them,  named  James  Shields,  was  determined 
to  save  the  boy's  life,  and  it  was  owing  to  his 
humanity  that  Nikkanochee  was  not  put  to  death. 

Brian.  That  man  deserves  to  be  rewarded.  I 
shall  not  forget  James  Shields. 

Hunter.  When  Nikkanochee  had  afterwards 
become  a  little  more  reconciled  to  his  situation, 
he  gave  some  acqount  of  the  way  in  which  he 
was  taken.  He  said,  that  as  he  was  travelling 
with  his  father  and  the  Indians,  the  white  men 
came  upon  them.    According  to  Indian  custom, 


•*. 


^ 


1 


If  ■ 


108 


THE   INDIANS  OF 


W'    , 


f  ^  ♦ 

-  n. 


^Jk 


-.isw 


when  a  party  is  surprised,  the  women  and  children 
immediately  fly  in  different  directions,  to  hide  in 
the  bushes  and  long  grass,  till  the  war-men  return 
to  them  after  the  fight  or  alarm  is  over.  Poor 
little  Nikkanochee,  in  trying  to  cross  a  rivulet, 
fell  back  again  into  it.  Besides  this  misfortune, 
he  met  with  others,  so  that  he  could  not  keep  up 
with  the  party.  He  still  kept  on,  for  he  saw  an 
old  coff*ee-pot  placed  on  a  log ;  and  Indians,  in 
their  flight,  place  things  in  their  track,  and  also 
break  off  twigs  from  the  bushes,  that  others  of 
their  tribe  may  know  how  to  follow  them.  Nik- 
kanochee came  to  a  settlement  of  whites,  but  he 
struck  out  of  the  road  to  avoid  it.  He  a  fterwards 
•ntered  a  peach  orchard,  belonging  to  a  deserted 
house,  and  here  he  satisfied  his  hunger.  It  was 
then  getting  dark,  but  the  soldiers  saw  him,  and 
set  off  afler  him  at  full  gallop.  In  vain  he  hid 
himself  in  the  grass,  and  lay  as  still  as  a  partridge, 
for  they  discovered  him  and  took  him  away. 

Austin,  I  wonder  that  Econchatli-mico,  his 
father,  or  the  brave  Oseola,  his  uncle,  did  not 
rescue  him. 

Hunter.  It  is  thought  that  they  did  return  upon 
the  back  trail,  for  the  place  they  had  been  in  was 
shortly  af^er  surrounded  by  Indians,  with  Oseola 
at  their  head ;  but  just  then  a  reinforcement  of^' 
soldiers  arrived,  and  the  Indians  were  obliged  to 
retire.  Had  not  the  soldiers  come  up  just  in 
time,  the  whole  garrison  might  have  fallen  by  the 
rifles  and  scalping-knives  of  enraged  Seminoles. 
Nikkanochee  passed  a  year  with  the  family  of  ^ 
Colonel  Warren,  and  was  beloved  by  them  all. 


W-'V'-' 


# 


f 


.¥ 


M. 


#: 


Ige, 

his 
not 


[upon 
was 
Iseola 

led  to 
1st  in 
the 
ioles. 
of 
all. 


4/ 


-4 


•i  .- 


NORTH  AMERICA/ 


■m 


^109 


There  was,  no  doubt,  much  sympathy  felt  for 
him,  as  the  nephew  of  a  well-known  warrior,  and 
the  son  of  the  king  of  a  warlike  people.  Nik-  i 
kanochee  was  afterwards  taken"  under  the  pro- 
tection of  a  gentleman,  who  became  much  attached 
to  him.  He  was  educated  with  other  children, 
and  taught  to  bend  the  knee  in  prayer,  and  to 
offer  praise  to  the  King  of-  kings  and  Lord  of 
lords.  Thus,  in  the  providence  of  God,  was 
Nikkanochee  brought  from  being  a  heathen  to 
be  a  worshipper  of  the  true  God  and  Jesus  Christ. 

Brian,  How  much  longer  did  he  remain  abroad  ? 

Hunter.  A  very  few  years,  during  which 
became  expert  in  climbing,  swimming,  loading 
the  rifle,  and  using  the  spear.  He  was  bold 
enough  to  attack  the  raccoon  and  otter,  and  wa«r 
not  afraid  even  of  the  alligator ;  few  of  his  age 
were  more  hardy,  or  could  bear  an  equal  degree 
of  fatigue.  His  kind  protector,  who  adopted  him 
as  his  own  child,  took  him  over  to  England  in 
the  year  1840.  But  I  have  given  you  a  long 
account.  May  Nikkanochee  become  as  celebrated 
for  virtue  and  piety  as  his  ancestors  and  relations 
were  for  valour  and  war. 


.T.V 


1* 


10 


*- 


«j,- 


'  w 


'^f 


*# 


¥ 


m 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

In  the  next  visit  of  the  three  brothers  to  the 
hunter,  he  pointed  out  to  them  the  great  influence 
that  religion  had  on  the  character  of  any  people  or 
Qpuntry.  A  false  religion  brings  with  it  a  train 
of  unnumbered  evils;  while  a  knowledge  of  the 
true  God,  and  a  living  faith  in  the  Saviour  who 
ited  for  sinners,  continually  promote  among  man- 
kind principles  of  justice  and  kindness,  and  com- 
'"  municate  to  their  hearts  the  blessings  of  peace 
and  joy.  "  True  it  is,"  said  he,  "  that  among 
professedly  Christian  people  there  is  much  of  evil ; 
much  of  envy,  hatred,  malice,  uncharitableness ; 
of  injustice,  covetousness  and  cruelty.  But  thia 
proceeds  not  from  Christianity,  but  from  the  fallen 
state  of  human  nstture,  which  nothing  but  tW 


ft 


l« 


1^: 


'.=^1 


;> 


y 


%■■■ 


f9 


*• 


the 

nee 
e  or 
rain 

the   :. 
Iwho 

lan- 
!om- 
leace 

ong 

vil ; 

ess ; 

this  1 

lUen  P 


<, 


northKamemca. 


«fe 


IH 


grace  of  God  can  renew,  and  from  the  great  num-  ^ 
ber  of  those  who  profess  to  be  Christians,  whil% 
they  are  uninfluenced  by  the  gospel  of  the  R^^ 
deemer.     Christianity  will  neither  alloW  us  to  dis- 
honour Gocf  by  bowing  down  to  idols,  nor  to  in- 
jure man  by  injustice  and  oppression.     The  In- 
dians of  our  country  are  not  found  bowing  down 
to  numberless  idols,  as  the  inhabitants  of  many 
countries  are :  they  worship  what  they  call  *  the 
Great  Spirit,'  with  a  deep  reverence,  humbling 
themselves  before  him,  and  undergoing  self-im- 
posed torments,  to  gain  his  good  will,  which  the 
generality  of  Christians,  in  the  manifestation  of 
their  faith,  would  find  it  hard  to  endure.     They 
believe  also  in  an  Evil  Spirit,  as  well  as  in  a  fu« 
ture  state  ;  and  'that  they  shall  be  happy  or  un-  , 
happy,  just  as  they  have  done  good  or  evil,  ac- 
cording to  their  estimate  of  those  qualities^  but 
this  belief  is  mixed  up  with  mysteries  and  super- 
stitions without  number.     I  speak  of  Indians  in 
the   forest   and  the   prairie,  who   know  nothing 
of  God's  word,  and  who  have  never  heard  th!i^ 
voice  of  a  missionary."  '5^"'      *%<^ 

Hunter.  The  different  tribes  believe,  that  if 
they  are  expert  in  the  chase,  bold  in  battle,' |lM 
slay  many  of  their  enemies,  they  shall  li\%'^for 
ever,  after  death,  in  beautiful  hunting-grounds,  * 
enjoying  the  pleasures  of  the  chase  contfnualP^. 
You  know  thit  we,  as  Christians,  are  enjoinetf  to 
forgive  our  enemies ;  but  untutored  Indians  de- 
light in  revenge :  .they  love  to  boast,  and  to  shed 
blood  ;  but  we  are  taught,  by  God's  h^y  word, 
to  be  humble  and  merciful.     There  is  on^  thing 


%^ 


■■)* 


m 


'*'- 


a^.  'Sj 


^  / 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


that  mingles  much  with  the  Indian  character ;  and 
^tal  is,  medicine,  or  mystery.  I  must  try  to  make 
^u  understand  it. 

Jlmtin,  Yes ;  I  should  like  to  know  all  about 
it  very  well. 

Hunter,  Go  where  you  may,  among  the  Choc- 
taws,  the  Seminoles,  the  Crows,  or  the  Blackfeet, 
every  Indian  has  his  medicine  or  mystery  bag, 
which  he  regards  with  reverence,  and  will  not 
part  with  for  any  price.  He  looks  upon  it  as  a 
kind  of  charm,  or  guardian  spirit,  that  is  to  keep 
him  from  evil.  He  takes  it  with  him  to  battle, 
and  when  he  dies  it  is  his  companion. 

Austin,  But  what  is  it  ?  Is  there  any  thing  in 
the  bag  ?     What  is  it  that  makes  medicine  ? 

Hunter,  Every  thing  that  is  mysterious  or 
wpnderful  to  an  Indian,  he  regards  as  medicine. 
I  do  not  mean  such  medicine  as  we  get  from  an 
apothecary ;  but  he  regards  it  as  something  awful, 
and  connected  with  spirits.  This  is  a  strong 
superstition,  which  has  laid  hold  of  the  red  man 
throughout  the  whole  of  his  race. 

Brian,  But  is  there  any  thing  in  the  medicine 
bag? 

Hunter,  The  medicine  bag  is  usually  the  skin 
of  some  animal,  such  as  the  beaver,  otter,  polecat, 
or  weazel ;  or  of  some  bird,  as  the  eagle,  the 
magpie,  or  hawk ;  or  of  some  reptile,  as  the  snake 
or  the  toad.  This  skin  is  stuffed  with  any  thing 
the  owner  chooses  to  put  into  it,  such  as  dry 
grass,  or  leaves ;  and  it  is  carefully  sewed  up  into 
some  curious  form,  and  ornamented  in  a  curious 
manner.     Some  medicine  bags  are  very  large, 


^^' 


;¥i, 


■'Wy. 


■•".ff: 


m-\ 


% 


J-- 


''•Wr 


.^.fi^Hf 


f 


■Sv* 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


113 


and  form  a  conspicuous  part  of  an  Indian^s  ap- 
pendages ;  while  others  are  very  small,  and 
altogether  hidden. 

Basil.  Why,  it  is  very  foolish  in  the  red  men 
to  carry  such  things  abou^t  with  them. 

Hunter.  It  certainly  is  so  ;  but  their  fathers 
and  their  tribes  have  done  so  for  many  generations, 
and  it  would  be  a  disgrace  to  them,  in  their  own 
estimation,  if  they  neglected  to  do  the  same.  A 
young  Indian,  before  he  has  his  medicine  bag, 
goes  perhaps  alone  on  the  prairie,  or  wanders  m 
the  forest,  or  beside  some  solitary  lake.  Day 
after  day,  and  night  after  night,  he  fasts,  and  calls 
on  the  Great  Spirit  to  help  him  to  medicine.  When 
he  sleeps,  the  first  animal,  or  bird,  or  reptile  that 
he  dreams  of,  is  his  medicine.  If  it  be  a  weazel, 
he  catches  a  weazel,  and  it  becomes  his  medicine 
for  ever.  If  it  be  a  toad  or  snake,  he  kills  it ; 
and  if  it  be  A  bird,  he  shoots  it,  and  stuffs  its 
skin. 

Austin.  This  is  one  of  the  most  wonderful 
things  you  have  told  us  yet. 

Hu7iter.  What  is  called  a  medicine  man,  or  a 
mystery  man,  is  one  who  ranks  high  in  his  tribe 
for  some  supposed  knowledge.  He  can  either 
make  buffaloes  come,  or  cure  diseases,  or  being 
rain,  or  do  some  other  wonderful  things,  or  per- 
suade his  tribe  that  he  can  do  tjiem.  Indeed, 
among  Indians,  hardly  any  thing  i^one  without 
the  medicine  man.  A  chief,  in  full  dress,  would 
as  soon  think  of  making  his  appearance  without 
his  head  as  without  his  medicine  bag.  There  is 
a  saying  among  the  Indians,  that  "a  man  lying 

10*  ■•''  •..  •  ''^'^  #■    .  , 


iS|l 


*   .v! 


*■! 


■% 


114 


THE  INDIANS   OP 


down,  is  medicine  to  the  grizzly  bear ;"  meaning, 
that  in  such  a  position  a  bear  will  not  hurt  him. 

Basil.  Is  it  true?  Will  not  the  grizzly  bear 
hurt  a  man  when  he  is  lying  down  ? 

Hunter.  So  many  people  say ;  but  I  should  be 
very  sorry  to  trust  the  grizzly  bear.  I  am  afraid 
that  he  would  be  paying  his  respects  to  me  in  a 
very  rough  way. 

Austin.  What  was  it  that  you  said  about  the 
medicine  man  bringing  rain  ? 

Hunter.  Some  of  them  are  famous  for  bringing 
rain  in  a  dry  season. 

Austin.  But  they  cannot  really  bring  rain. 

Hunter.  The  matter  is  managed  in  this  way. — 
When  once  they  undertake  to  bring  rain,  they 
keep  up  their  superstitious  ceremonies,  day  after 
day,  till  the  rain  comes.  Oftentimes  it  is  very 
long  before  they  succeed.  It  was  in  a  time  of 
.great  drought,  that  I  once  arrived  at  the  Mandan 
village  on  the  Upper  Missouri.  At  the  diflerent 
Indian  villages,  peas  and  beans,  wild  rice,  corn, 
melons,  squashes,  pumpkins,  peaches  and  straw- 
berries were  often  found  in  abundance ;  but,  on 
this  occasion,  the  Mandans  had  a  very  poor  pros- 
pect of  gathering  any  thing  that  required  rain  to 
bring  it  to  perfection.  The  young  and  the  old 
were  crying  out  that  they  should  have  no  green 
corn. 

Austin.  Why  did  they  not  tell  the  medicine 
men  earlier  to  make  the  rain  come  ? 

Hunter.  They  did  so  :  but  it  was  not  quite  con- 
venient to  the  medicine  men  ;  for  they  saw  clearly 
enough  that  there  was  not  the  slightest  appearance 


,•■5!^"" 


• 


•86 


iif^' 


■i 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


115 


me 


of  rain.  After  putting  it  off,  day  after  day,  the* 
sky  grew  a  little  cloudy  to  the  west,  when  the 
medicine  men  assembled  together  in  great  haste 
to  make  it  rain.  .     ,.  ^ 

Brian,  Ay !  they  were  very  cunning. 

Hunter.  No  sooner  was  it  known  that  the  medi- 
cine men  were  met  together  in  the  mystery  lodge, 
than  the  village  was  all  in  commotion.  They 
wanted  rain,  and  they  were  very  sure  that  their 
medicine  men  could  bring  it  when  they  pleased. 
The  tops  of  the  wigwams  were  soon  crowded.  In 
the  mystery  lodge  a  fire  was  kindled,  round  which  ■ 
sat  the  rain-makers,  burning  sweet-smelling  herbs, 
smoking  the  medicine  pipe,  and  calling  on  the 
Great  Spirit  to  open  the  door  of  the  skies,  and  let 
out  the  rain. 

Basil.  That  is  the  way  they  make  it  rain,  is  it.^ 

Hunter,  At  last,  one  of  the  rain-makers  came 
out  of  the  mystery  lodge,  and  stood  on  the  top  of* 
it  with  a  spear  in  his  hand,  which  he  brandished 
about  in  a  commanding  and  threatening  manner, 
lifting  it  up  as  though  he  were  about  to  hurl  it  up 
at  the  heavens.  He  talked  aloud  of  the  power 
of  his  medicine,  holding  up  his  medicine  bag  in 
one  hand,  and  his  spear  in  the  other ;  but  it  was 
of  no  use,  neither  his  medicine  nor  his  spear  could 
make  it  rain  ;  and,  at  the  setting  of  the  sun,  he 
came  down  from  his  elevated  position  in  dis- 
grace. 

Austin.  Poor  fellow  !     He  had  had  enough  of  , 
rain-makmg  for  one*  day.  ^' 

Hunter.  For  several  days  the  same  ceremony 
was  carried  on,  until  a  rain-maker,  with  a  head- 


# 


^    w 


h*' 


« 


116 


THE   INDIANS   OF 


dress  of  the  skins  of  birds,  ascended  the  top  of 
the  mystery  lodge,  with  a  bow  in  his  hand,  and  a 
quiver  at  his  back.  He  made  a  long  speech, 
which  had  in  it  much  about  thunder  and  lightning, 
and  black  clouds  and  drenching  rain ;  for  the  sky 
was  growing  dark,  and  it  required  no  great  know- 
ledge of  the  weather  to  foretell  rain.  He  shot 
arrows  to  4he  east  and  west,  and  others  to  the 
north  and  the  south,  in  honour  of  the  Great  Spirit 
who  could  send  the  rain  from  all  parts  of  the  skies. 
A  fifth  arrow  he  retained,  until  it  was  almost  cer- 
tain that  rain  was  at  hand.  Then,  sending  up 
the  shaft  from  his  bow,  with  all  his  might,  to 
make  a  hole,  as  he  said,  in  the  dark  cloud  over 
his  head,  he  cried  aloud  for  the  waters  to  pour 
down  at  his  bidding,  and  to  drench  him  to  the  skin. 
He  was  brandishing  his  bow  in  one  hand,  and  his 
medicine  in  the  other,  when  the  rain  came  down 
in  a  torrent.  The  whole  village  was  clamorous 
with  applause.  He  was  regarded  as  a  great  mystery 
man,  whose  medicine  was  very  powerful,  and  he 
rose  to  great  distinction  among  his  tribe.  You 
see,  then,  the  power  of  a  mystery  man  in  bringing 
rain.     Does  it  not  astonish  you  ? 

Austin.  No,  not  a  bit.  I  see  that  it  was  all  a 
cheat. 

,  ..Brian.  I  could  make  it  rain  myself  as  well  as 
he  did,  for  he  never  shot  his  arrow  to  pierce  the 
cloud  till  it  was  over  his  head. 

Hunter.  To  be  a  mystery  man  is  regarded  as  a 
great  honour;  and  some  Indians  are  said  to  have 
suspended  themselves  from  a  pole,  with  splints 
through  their  flesh,  and  their  medicine  bags  ia| 


*: 


m 


M 


iti.ii.,. 


.M^.:..  .-l-XSIkm 


-.■,"««     *.;.■'■■> 


a 

IS 

a 
[e 
Is  . 


:m 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


117 


Hunter,  Now  I  will  tell  you  something  about 
Indian  marriages.  There  is  very  little  ceremony 
in  an  Indian  marriage.  The  father  may  be  seen 
sitting  among  his  friends,  when  the  young  Indian 
comes  in  with  presents,  to  induce  him  to  give  him 
his  daughter  for  a  wife.  If  the  presents  are  not 
liked,  they  are  not  accepted ;  if  they  are  approved, 
the  father  takes  the  hand  of  his  daughter,  and  the 
hand  of  the  young  Indian,  and  slaps  thetn  to- 
gether ;  after  which  a  little  feasting  takes  place. 
•Austin,  Why,  that  is  like  buying  a  wife.  * 
Hunter.  It  is ;  but  the  young  Indian  has  already 
gained  the  good  will  of  his  intended  wife :  not  by 
his  fine  clothes  and  his  wealth,  for  he  has  neither 
the  one  nor  the  other,  but  by  showing  her  the 
skins  of  the  bears  he  has  killed,  and  the  scalps 
and  scalp-locks  of  the  foes  he  has  slaughtered ; 
and  by  telling  her  that  he  will  hunt  for  her,  that 
she  may  be  kept  from  want,  and  fight  for  her,  that 
she  may  be  protected  from  the  enemies  of  her 
tribe.  Indians  have  strange  customs :  some  flatten 
the  heads  of  their  young  children,  by  laying  them 
in  a  cradle,  with  a  pillow  for  the  back  of  the 
head,  and  then  pressing  the  forehead,  day  after 
day,  w'ith  a  boafd,  that  comes  down  upon  it,  till 
the  nose  and  forehead  form  a  straight  line.     . 


their  hands,  looking  towar(}s  the  sun,  for  a  whole 
day,  to  obtain  it. 

Austin.  When  I  go  among  the  Indians,  I  will 
not  be  a  mystery  man.  f 


'^ 


•v:;  -Ath. 


#' 


i 

i 


t 


;^ 


118 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


•r 


Brian.  I  should  not  like  my  head  to  be  flat- 
tened in  that  manner. 

Hunter.  Children  are  carried  about  in  their 
cradles  on  the  backs  of  their  mothers,  wherever 
they  go ;  and  when  children  die,  they  are  often 
left,  in  their  cradles,  floating  on  the  water  of  a 
brook  or  pool,  which  their  superstition  teaches 
them  to  regard  as  sacred.  A  cluster  of  these  litde 
0  arks  or  cradles,  or  coflins  as  they  may  be  called, 
of  different  forms,  in  a  lone  pool,  is  a  very  pic- 
turesque and  affecting  sight. 
I'  Basil.  1  shall  often  think  of  the  pool,  and  the 
little  cradles  swimming  on  it.  It  would  remind 
me  of  Moses  in  the  bulrushes. 
,  Hunter.  There  are  other  singular  customs 
among  the  Indians.  The  Kowyas,  the  Pawnees, 
the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  the  Osages,  and  the  lowas, 
all  shave  their  heads,  leaving  a  tuft  on  the  crown 
two  or  three  inches  in  length,  and  a  small  lock  in 
the  middle  of  it,  as  long  as  they  can  make  it  grow. 
By  means  of  this  small  lock  of  hair  braided,  they 
ornament  the  tuft  with  a  crest  of  the  deer's  tail 
dyed  scarlet,  ai;jd  sometimes  add  to  it  a  w^ar- 
eagle's  feather. 

Austin.  How  different  from  the  Crow  Indians ! 
They  do  not  shave  off*  their  hair ;  but  let  it  grow 
till  it  hangs  down  to  the  very  ground. 

Hunter.  You  have  not  forgotten  that,  I  see. 
There  is  a  cruel  custom  among  the  Indians,  of 
f  exposing  their  aged  people,  that  is,  leaving  them 
alone  to  die.  If  a  party  are  obliged  to  remove 
from  one  place  to  another  in  search  of  food, 
there  is  among  them  an  aged  man,  who  can 


.0% 


KORTH  AMERICA. 


119 


e 
Id 


longer  fight,  nor  hunt,  nor  fish,  nor  do  any  thing 
to  support  himself,  he  is  liable,  although  in  his 
time  he  may  have  been  a  war-chief,  to  be  left 
alone  to  die.  1  have  seen  such  a  one  sitting  by  a 
little  fire  left  him  by  his  tribe,  with  perhaps  a  buf- 
falo skin  stretched  on  poles  over  his  head,  and  a 
little  water  and  a  few  bones  within  his  reach.  I 
have  put  my  pipe  to  his  mouth,  given  him  pemi- 
can,  and  gathered  slicks,  that  he  might  be  able  to 
recruit  his  fire ;  and  when,  months  after,  J  have 
returned  to  the  s|iot,  there  has  been  npthing  left 
of  him  but  his  skeleton,  picked  cleaa  by  the 
wolves  and  bleaching  in  the  winds. 

Jiustin.  This  is  one  of  the  worst  things  we  have 
heard  of  the  Indians. 

Basil,  Oh,  it  is  very  sad  indeed  !    ,  - 

Hunter.  You  would  not  forsake  your  father,  in 
old  age,  in  that  manner,  would  you  ?  <fc«»  - 
•  Jiustin.  No !  As  long  as  we  could  get  a  bit  of 
bread  or  a  drop  of  water,  he  should  have  part  of 
it,  and  we  would  die  with  him  rather  than  desert 
him.  ^  .  •< 

Brian  and  Basil.  Yes ;  that  we  would ! 

Hunter.  I  hope  so.  This  is,  I  say,  a  cruel  cus- 
tom ;  but  it  forms  a  part  of  Indian  manners,  so 
that  the  old  men  expect  it,  and,  indeed,  would 
not  alter  it.  Indians  have  not  been  tauglit,  as  we 
have,  to  honour  their  parents,  at  least  riot  in/he 
same  way ;  but  I  can  say  nothing  in  favpnr  of  so- 
cruel  and  unnatural  a  custom.  Among  the  Sioux 
of  the  Mississippi,  it  is  considered  great  medicine 
to  jump  on  the  Leaping  Rock,  and  back  again. 
""     rock  is  ^:h;^ge  column  or  block^  between 


1 


1 


•^j 


'■^  ' 


:^- 


".  -.  \W^' 


\\ 


'<W 


•■''If 


120 


THE  INDIANS  OP 


m- 


•  •  i 


thirty  and  forty  feet  high,  divided  from  the  side 
of  the  Red  Pipe-stone  Quarry.  It  is  about  seven 
feet  broad,  and  at  a  distance  from  the  main  rock 
of  about  six  or  eight  feet.  Many  are  bold  enough 
to  take  the  leap,  and  to  leave  their  arrows  stick- 
ing in  one  of  its  crevices ;  while  others,  equally 
courageous,  have  fallen  from  the  top  in  making 
the  attempt,  and  been  dashed  to  pieces. 

Brian.  When  you  go  ta  Pij;)e-stone  Quarry, 
Austin,  have  nothing  to  do"  with  the  Leaping 
Rock.  You  must  get  your  ifftdicine  in  some 
other  way. 

Austin.  I  shall  leave  the  Leaping  Rock  to  the 
leaping  Indians,  for  it  will  never  suit  me. 

Hunter.  There  is  a  very  small  fish  caught  in 
the  river  Thames,  called  white  bait,  which  is 
considered  a  very  great  luxury ;  but,  to  my  taste, 
the  white  fish,  of  which  the  Chippewas  take  great 
abundance  in  the  rapids  near  the  Falls  of  Stf 
Mary's,  are  preferable.  The  Chippewas  catch 
them  in  the  rapids  with  scoop-nets,  in  the  use  of 
which  they  are  very  expert.  The  A^'hite  fish 
resemble  salmon,  but  are  much  Jtess  ir^ize. 

Austin.  The  white  fish  of  th^Chip^e-was  will 
suit  me  better  than  the  Leaping  Rock  of  the 
Sioux. 

Hunter.  Among  the  Indians,  feasting,  fasting, 
and  sacrifices  of  a  peculiar  kind,  form  a  part  of 
their  religious  or  superstitious  observances.  Some 
of  the  Pawnees,  in  former  times,  offered  huynan 
sacrifices ;  but  this  cruel  custom  is  now  no  more. 
The  Mandans  frequently  offered  a  finger  to  the 
god,  or  Evil  Spirit ;  and  most  of  the  tribes  offer  a 

T 


t 


I  side 

seven 

I  rock 

lough 

stick- 

qually 

taking 

quarry, 

eaping 

some 

to  the 

ight  in 
hich  is 


taste, 
great 

of  St.* 
catch 

use  of 
fish 

as  will 
of  the 

asting, 
)art  of 
Some 
mjnan 
more. 
I  to  the 
loffer  a 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


121 


horse,  a  dog,  a  spear,  or  an  arrow,  as  the  case 
may  be.  Over  the  Mandan  mystery  lodge  used 
to  hang  the  skin  of  a  white  buffalo,  with  blue  and 
black  cloth  of  great  value.  These  were  intended 
as  a  sacrifice  or  an  offering  to  the  good  and  evil 
spirits,  to  avert  their  anger  and  to  gain  their 
favour. 

Brian.  How  many  things  you  do  remember ! 

Hunter,  All  the  chiefs  of  the  tribes  keep  run- 
ners :  men  swifl  of  foot,  who  carry  messages  and 
commands,  and  spread  among  the  people  news 
necessary  to  be  communicated.  These  runners 
sometimes  go  great  distances  in  a  very  short  space 
of  time.  * 

Brian.  You  must  have  your  runners,  AusUn. 

Austin.  Oh  yes,  I  will  have  my  runners :  for 
I  shall  want  pipe-stone  from  Red  Pipe-stone 
Quarry,  and  white  fish  from  the  Chippewas ;  and 
then  I  shall  send  messages  to  the  Cherokees  and 
Choctaws,  the  Camanchees,  the  Blackfeet  and 
the  €rows.  >        , 

Hunter.  The  squaws,  or  wives  of  the  Indians, 
labour  very  contentedly,  seeming  to  look  on  servi- 
tude as  their  proper  calling.  They  get  in  wood 
and  water ;  they  prepare  the  ground  for  grain, 
cook  victuals,  make  the  dresses  of  their  husbands, 
manufacture  pottery,  dress  skins,  attend  to  the 
children,  and  make  themselves  useful  in  a  hundred 
other  ways. 

Brian.  I  think  the  squaws  behave  themselves 
very  well. 

Hunter.  The  smoking  of  the^fA^  takes  place 


# 


^ 


**• 


ffmi-r-'^^-'^il^t'-' 


II. 


A     • 


122 


THE   INDIANS   OF 


on  all  great  occasions,  just  as  though  the  Indians 
/  thought  it  was  particularly  grateful  to  the  Good 

/  and  Evil  Spirits.     In  going  to  war,  or  in  cele- 

brating peace,  as  well  as  on  all  solemn  occasions, 
'^^    the  pipe   is   smoked.     Oftentimes,  before  it  is 
^  passed  round,  the  stem  is  pointed  upwards,  and 
y  then  offered  to  the  four  points — east,  west,  north 

#  and  south.     In  the  hands  of  a  mystery  man,  it  is 
great  and  powerful  medicine.     If  ever  you  go 

^'  among  the  red  men,  you  must  learn  to  smoke ; 
^  •■ '  for  to  refuse  to  draw  a  whitT  through  ihe  friendly 
^'^  j    pipe  offered  to  you,  would  be  regardea  as  a  sad 

*  afliront.       ^  ^ 

Basil.  What  will  you  do  now,  Austin  ?  You 
never  smoked  a  pipe  in  your  life. 

*'  Austin.     Oh,  lyifffould  soon  learn;  besides,  I 

'      need  only  take  a  very  little  whiff*. 

;  Murder.     You  must  learn  to  eat  dog's  flesh. 

i  t()di^>ftrtr  when  W!llndia^ns  mean  to  conffef  a  greafts^ 

honbu^  on  a  chief  or  a  stranger,  they  give  him  a 
dog  feast,  in  which  they  set  before  him  their  most 
favourite  dogs,  killed  and  cooked.  The  more  use- 
ful the  dogs  were,  and  the  more  highly  valued, 
the  greater  is  the  comptoent  to  him  in  whose 
honour  the  feast  is  giveiPphindif  he  were  to  re- 
fuse to  eat  of  the  dog's  flesh,  thus  prepared  out 
of  particular  respect  to  him,  no  greater  offence 
could  be  offered  to  his  hospitable  entertainers. 

Brian.  Yjiu  have  something  a  little  harder  to 
do  now,^I  thitt^igjl^stin ;  to  learn  to  eat  dog's 
flesh.    .V 

y^ustin.' 
keep  out  of THI^y  0f  aT  dog  feast.    I  might  take 


■t^ 


■r^. 


4^:- 


f 


#' 

/.'- 


>»* 


■  VP  -"S  ^■" 


1- 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


123 


a  little  whifT  at  their  pipe,  but  I  could  not  touch 
their  dainty  dogs. 

Hwnter.  In  some  of  the  large  lodges,  I  have 
seen  very  impressive  common  life-scenes.  Fancy 
lo  yourselves  a  large  round  lodge,  holding  ten  or 
a  dozen  beds  of  buffalo  skins,  with  a  high  post 
between  every  bed.  On  these  posts  hang  the 
shields,  the  war-clubs,  the  spears,  the  bows  and 
quivers,  the  eagle-plumed  head-dresses,  and  the 
medicine  bags  of  the  different  Indians  who  sleep 
there;  and  on  the  top  of  each  post  the  buffalo 
mask,  with  its  horns  and  tail,  used  in  the  buffalo 
dance.  Fancy  to  yourselves  a  group  of  Indians  in 
the  middle  of  the  lodge,  with  their  wives  and  their 
little  ones  around  them,  smoking  their  pipes  knd 
relating  their  adventures,  as  happy  as  ease  and  the 
supply  of  all  their  animal  wants  can  make  them. 
While  you  gaze  on  the  scene,  so  strange,  so  wild, 
so  picturesque  and  so  happy,  an  emotion  of  friendly 
feeling  for  the  red  man  thrills  your  bosom,  a  tear 
of  pleasure  starts  into  yoiix  eye ;  and,  before  you 
are  aware,  an  ejaculation  of  thankfulness  has 
escaped  your  lips,  to  the  F&ther  of  mercies,  that, 
in  his  goodness  and  boifnty  to  itittf^kind,  he  has 
not  forgotten  the  iiihabitants  of  the  forest  and  the 
prairie. 

The  Indians  have  a  method  of  hardening  their 
shields,  by  smoking  them  over  a  fire,  in  a  hole  in  " 
the  ground ;  and,  usually,  when  a  warrior  thus 
smokes  his  shield,  he  gives  a  feast  to  his  friends. 
Some  of  the  pipes  of  the  Indians  are  beautiful. 
The  bowls  are  all  of  the  red  stone  from  Pipe- 
stone Quarry,  cut  into  all  manner  of  fantastic 


r 


\ 


% 


':&.'■■' 


vJK-. 


■.■■^t^ 


.  •■^ 


124 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


forms ;  while  the  stems,  three  or  four  feet  long,  are 
ornamented  with  braids  of  porcupine's  quills, 
beaks  of  birds,  feathers  and  red  hair.  The  calu- 
met, or,  as  it  is  called,  *'  the  peace-pipe,"  is  in- 
deed, as  I  have  before  said,  great  medicine.  It 
is  highly  adorned  with  quills  of  the  war-eagle, 
and  never  used  on  any  other  occasion  than  that  of 
making  and  solemnizing  peace,  when  it  is  passed 
round  to  the  chiefs.  It  is  regarded  as  altogether 
a  sacred  utensil.  An  Indian's  pipe  is  his  friend 
through  the  pains  and  pleasures  of  life  ^  and  when 
his  tomahawk  and  his  medicine  bag  are  placed 
beside  his  poor,  pallid  remains,  his  pipe  is  not 
forgotten. 

AtLstin,  When  an  Indian  dies,  how  do  they 
bury  him  ? 

Hunter,  According  to  the  custom  of  his  tribe. 
Some  Indians  are  buried  under  the  sod  ;  some  are 
left  in  cots,  or  cradles,  on  the  water ;  and  others 
are  placed  on  frames  raised  to  support  them« 
You  remember  that  I  told  you  of  Blackbird's 
grave. 

Austin,  Ay !  he  was  buried  on  horseback,  on 
the  top  of  a  high  bluff, 'sitting  on  his  horse.  He 
was  covered  all  over  with  sods. 

Hunter.  And  I  told  you  of  the  Chinock  chil- 
dren floating  on  the  solitary  pool. 

Basil.    Yes,  I  remember  them  very  well. 

Hunter.  Grown-up  Chinocks  are  lefl  floating 
in  cradles,  just  in  the  same  manner ;  though  oftener 
they  are  tied  up  in  skins,  and  laid  in  canoes,  with 
paddles,  pipes  and  provisions,  and  then  hoisted 
up  into  a  tree,  and  left  there  to  decay.    In  the 


*       m       t 


-M( 


.■I 


NORTH    /AMERICA. 


125 


they 


chil- 


[ating 
tener 
with 

listed 
the 


• 


Mandan  burial  place,  the  dead  were  ranged  in 
rows,  on  high  slender  frames,  out  of  the  way  of 
the  wolf,  dressed  in  their  best  robes,  and  wrapped 
in  a  fresh  buffalo  skin,  with  all  their  arms,  pipes, 
and  every  necessary  provision  and  comfort  to  sup- 
ply their  wants  in  their  journey  to  the  hunting-  ^ 
grounds  of  their  fathers.  In  our  burial  grounds, 
there  are  generally  son;ie  monuments  grander  than 
the  rest,  to  set  forth  the  wealth,  the  station,  or  the 
talents  of  those  who  slumber  below ;  and,  as  hu- 
man nature  is  the  same  everywhere,  so  in  the  rest- 
ing place  of  the  Indians.  Here  and  there  are 
spread  out  a  few  yards  of  red  or  blue  cloth,  to  sig- 
nify that  beneath  it  a  chief,  or  a  superior  brave,  is 
sleeping.  The  Mandan  dead  occupied  a  spot  on 
the  prairie.  Here  they  mouldered,  warrior  lying 
by  the  side  of  warrior,  till  they  fell  to  the  ground 
from  their  frames,  when  the  bones  were  buried, 
and  the  skulls  ranged  with  great  care,  in  round 
rings,  on  the  prairie,  with  two  buffalo  skulls  and 
a  medicine  pole  in  the  centre. 

Austin.  Ay !  it  would  be  of  no  use  for  the 
wolf  to  come  then,  for  there  would  be  nothing  for 
him.  I  should  very  much  like  to  see  an  Indian 
burying-place.  1i^ 

Hunter.  Were  you  to  visit  one,  you  would  see 
that  the  heart  and  affections  are  at  work  under  a 
red  skin,  as  well  as  under  a  white  one  ;  for  parents 
and  children,  husbands  and  wives,  go  there  to  la- 
ment for  those  who  are  dear  to  them,  and  to  hum- 
ble themselves  before  the  Great  Spirit,  under 
whose  care  they  believe  their  departed  relatives 
to  be.    The  skulls,  too,  are  visited,  and  every 

II* 


.,-.jS&'' 


126 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


one  is  placed  carefully,  from  time  to  time,  on  a 
tiift  of  sweet-smelling  herb  or  plant.  Life  is  but 
a  short  season  with  both  the  white  and  the  red 
man,  and  ought  to  be  well  spent.  It  is  as  a  flower 
that  flourishes :  "  For  the  wind  passeth  over  it, 
and  it  is  gone ;  and  the  place  thereof  shall  know 
it  no  more."  But  I  have  now  told  you  enough 
for  the  present.  Come  again,  as  soon  as  you  will ; 
I  shall  have  some  anecdotes  of  Indians  ready  for 
you. 


■  ^ 


m^- 


4. 


.A 


IZKJaa  CradXa. 


V      -h 


m- 


-■,4fi>^ 


iM-Ms^^MSt^  ■ 


'H 


i';--?^i{-    -I—'-  '? 


■'^SflP..' 


if      f\ 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


m 


.,        Sirr,... 


CHAPTER  IX. 

With  willing  feet,  sparkling  eyes  and  happy 
hearts,  Austin  and  his  two  brothers  again  set  on 
for  the  cottage  near  the  wood.  On  an  ordinary 
occasion,  they  might  have  found  time  for  a  little 
pleasant  loitering ;  but  the  Indian  anecdotes  they 
expected  to  hear  excited  their  curiosity  too  much 
to  allow  a  single  minute  to  be  lost.  A  pin  might 
have  been  heard  falling  oa  the  ground,  when, 
seated  in  the  cottage,  they  listened  to  the  follow- 
ing anecdotes  of  the  hunter. 

Hunter.  It  has  pleased  God  to  endue  Indians 
with  quick  perceptions.  They  are  amazingly 
quick  in  tracing  an  enem}^,  both  in  the  woods  and 
the  prairie.  A  broken  twig  or  leaf,  or  the  faintest 
impression  on  the  grass,  is  sufficient  to  attract  ^ir 


,«?T 


,«1 


128 


THE  INDIANS   OF 


attention.  The  anecdotes  I  am  about  to  relate  are 
believed  to  be  true,  but  I  cannot  myself  vouch 
for  their  correctness,  having  only  read  them,  or 
heard  them  related  by  others. 

An  Indian,  upon  his  return  home  to  his  hut 
one  day,  discovered  that  his  venison,  which  had 
been  hung  up  to  dry,  had  been  stolen.  After  go- 
ing some  distance,  he  met  some  persons,  of  whom 
he  inquired  if  they  had  seen  a  lUiie,  old^  white 
mauy  with  a  short  gun,  and  accompanied  by  a  small 
dog  with  a  bob-tail.  They  replied  in  the  affirma- 
tive ;  and,  upon  the  Indian's  assuring  them  that 
the  man  thus  described  had  stolen  his  venison, 
they  desired  to  be  informed  how  he  was  able 
to  give  such  a  minute  description  of  a  person 
whom  he  had  not  seen.  The  Indian  answered 
thus : —  • 

"  The  thief  I  know  is  a  Hide  man,  by  his  hav- 
ing made  a  pil^  of  stones  in  order  to  reach  the 
venison,  from  the  height  I  hung  it  standing  on  the 
ground ;  that  he  is  an  old  man,  I  know  by  his 
short  steps,  which  I  have  traced  over  the  dead 
leaves  in  the  woods  ;  that  he  is  a  white  man,  I 
know  by  his  turning  out  his  toes  \vhen  he  walks, 
w^hich  an  Indian  never  does  ;  his  gun  I  know  to 
be  short,  by  the  mark  which  the  muzzle  made  by 
rubbing  the  bark  of  the  tree  on  which  it  leaned ; 
that  the  dog  is  small,  I  know  by  his  tracks  ;  and 
that  he  has  a  bob-tail,  I  discovered  by  the  mark 
of  it  in  the  dust  where  he  was  sitting  at  the  time 
his  master  was  taking  down  the  meat." 

Brian,  Well  done,  Indian!  Why,  nothing 
^ould  escape  a  man  like  that. 

,1  ^    .■»■■ 


•^ 


f5«5(tr' 


'>• 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


129 


to 

Iby 

d; 

Ind 

trk 


H 


it 


Austin,  An  Englishman  would  hardly  have 
been  able  to  describe  the  thief  without  seeing 
him.  ' .  ^ 

Hunter,  You  shall  have  another  instance  of  the 
quick  perceptions  of  the  red  men.  A  most  atro- 
cious and  shocking  murder  was  once  committed, 
by  a  party  of  Indians,  on  fourteen  white  settlers, 
within  five  miles  of  Shamokin.  The  surviving 
whites,  in  their  rage,  determined  to  take  their  re- 
venge by  murdering  a  Delaware  Indian,  who  hap- 
pened to  be  in  those  parts,  and  who  was  far  from 
thinking  himself  in  any  danger.  He  was  a  great 
friend  to  the  whites,  was  loved  and  esteemed  by 
them,  and,  in  testimony  of  their  regard,  had  re- 
ceived from  them  the  name  of  Duke  Holland,  by 
which  he  was  generally  known. 

This  Indian,  satisfied  that  his  nation  were  in- 
capable of  committing  such  a  foul  murder  in  a 
time  of  profound  peace,  told  the  enraged  settlers 
that  he  was  sure  the  Delawares  were  not  in  any 
manner  concerned  in  it,  and  that  it  was  the  act 
of  some  wicked  Mingoes  or  Iroquois,  whose  cus- 
tom it  was  to  involve  other  nations  in  wars  with 
each  other,  by  secretly  committing  murders,  so 
that  they  might  appear  to  be  the  work  of  others. 
But  all  his  representations  were  vain ;  he  could 
not  convince  exasperated  men,  whose  minds  were 
fully  bent  on  revenge. 

At  last,  he  offered  that,  if  they  would  give  him 
a  party  to  accompany  him,  he  would  go  with 
them  in  quest  of  the  murderers,  and  was  sure  that 
he  could  discover  them  by  the  prints  of  their  feet, 
and  other  marks  well  known  to  him,  by  which  he 


*!<■ 


I 


» 


r  '.m 


130 


THE   INDIANS   OF 


( 


'■^11 


* 


would  convince  them  that  the  real  perpetrators  of 
the  crime  belonpjed  to  the  Six  Nations. 

His  proposal  was  accepted,  lie  marched  at 
the  head  of  a  party  of  whites  and  led  them  into  the 
tracks.  They  soon  found  themselves  in  the  most 
rocky  part  of  a  mountain,  where  not  one  of  those 
who  accompanied  him  could  discover  a  single 
track,  nor  would  they  believe  that  men  had  ever 
trodden  on  this  ground,  as  they  had  to  jump  from 
rock  to  rock,  or  to  crawl  over  them.  They  began 
to  believe  that  the  Indian  had  led  them  across 
these  rugged  mountains  in  order  to  give  the  enemy 
time  to  escape.  They  threatened  him  with  instant 
death  the  moment  they  should  be  convinced  of 
the  fraud. 

The  Indian,  true  to  his  promise,  took  pains  to 
make  them  perceive  that  an  enemy  had  passed 
along  the  places  through  which  he  was  leading 
them.  Here,  he  showed  them  that  the  moss  on 
the  road  had  been  trodden  down  by  the  weight 
of  a  human  foot ;  there,  that  it  had  been  torn  and 
dragged  forward  from  its  place.  Again,  he  would 
point  out  to  them,  that  pebbles,  or  small  stones 
on  the  rocks,  had  been  removed  from  their  beds 
by  the  foot  hitting  against  them  ;  that  dry  sticks, 
by  being  trodden  upon,  were  broken;  and,  in 
one  particular  place,  that  an  Indian's  blanket  had 
been  dragged  over  the  rocks,  and  had  removed 
or  loosened  the  leaves  lying  there,  so  that  they 
did  not  lie  flat,  as  in  other  places.  All  these 
marks  the  Indian  <*.ould  perceive  as  he  walked 
along,  without  even  stopping. 

At  last,  arriving  at  tbe  foot  of  the  mountain,  on 


m 


■«<&^ 


•<^' 


?  '^ii.l 


L,wn-''  ■    I  ':  I'M- 


^^■■ 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


131 


soft  ground,  where  the  tracks  were  deep,  he  found 
that  the  enemy  were  eight  in  number;  and,  from 
the  freshness  of  the  foot-prints,  he  concluded  that 
thoy  must  be  encamped  at  no  great  distance. 

This  proved  to  be  the  exact  truth ;  for,  after 
gaining  the  eminence  on  the  other  side  of  the  val- 
ley, the  Indians  were  seen  encartiped :  some 
having  already  laid  down  to  sleep,  while  others 
were  drawing  off  their  leggings,  or  Indian  stock- 
ings, for  the  same  purpose,  and  the  scalps  they 
had  taken  were  hanging  up  to  dry. 

"  See,'^  said  Duke  Holland  to  his  astonished 
companions,  "  there  is  the  enemy ;  not  people  of 
my  nation,  but  Mingoes,  as  I  truly  told  you.  They 
are  in  our  power.  In  less  than  half  an  hour  they 
will  be  all  fast  asleep.  We  need  not  fire  a  gun,^ 
but  go  up  and  tomahawk  them.  We  are  nearly 
two  to  one,  and  need  apprehend  no  danger. 
Come  on,  and  you  will  now  have  your  full  re* 
venge." 

But  the  whites,  overcome  with  fear,  did  not 
choose  to  follow  the  Indian's  advice,  but  desired 
him  to  take  them  back  by  the  nearest  and  best 
way.  This  he  did ;  and  when  they  arrived  at 
home,  they  reported  the  enemy  to  have  been  so 
great  that  they  durst  not  venture  to  attack  them. 

Austin.  This  instance  is  quite  as  wonderful  as 
the  other. 

Brian.  I  would  not  have  an  Indian  after  me  if 
I  had  done  wrong  ;  for  he  would  be  sure  to  find 
me  out. 

Hunter.  Red  men  often  act  very  conscien- 
tiously.    One  day,  an  Indian  solicited  a  litde  to- 


V 


Aj^i. 


132 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


:    1 


•^-^^ 


,•'. 


f 


bacco  of  a  "white  man,  to  fill  his  pipe.  Having 
some  loose  in  his  pocket,  the  white  man  gave  him 
a  handful.  The  next  day  the  Indian  returned  in 
search  of  the  man  A^'ho  had  given  him  the  tobacco. 

"  I  wish  to  see  him,"  said  the  Indian. 

"  Why  so  ?"  inquired  some  one. 

"  Why,  I  find  money  with  the  tobacco." 

"  Well !  what  of  that?  Keep  it ;  it  "was  given 
to  you." 

*'  Ah !"  said  the  Indian,  shaking  his  head,  '*  I 
got  good  man  and  bad  man  here,"  pointing  to  his 
breast.  **  Good  man  say,  *  Money  not  yours ;  you 
must,  return  it :'  bad  man  say,  *  ^Tis  yours ;  it  was 
given  to  you.'  Good  man  say,  *  That  not  right : 
tobacco  yours,  money  not  yours.'  Bad  man  say, 
'Never  mind,  nobody  know  it;   go  buy  rum.' 

no  such  thinsf.'    So 


Good  man 


say,  'Oh  no , 


poor  Indian  know  not  what  to  do.  Me  lie  down 
to  sleep,  but  no  sleep ;  good  man  and  bad  man 
talk  all  night,  and  trouble  me.  So  now,  me 
bring  money  back :  now,  me  feel  good." 

Basil.  I  like  that  Indian  very  much. 
^    Brian,  No  one  could  have  acted  more  honestly. 

Hunter,  Whatever  the  Indians  may  be,  when 
oppressed,  wronged  and  deceived  by  the  whites ; 
and  however  they  may  act  towards  their  enemies ; 
they  are  usually  honest  towards  their  own  tribe. 
While  I  was  residing  on  the  Big  Beaver,  says 
one  who  lived  much  among  them,  I  passed  by 
the  door  of  an  Indian  who  was  a  trader,  and  had, 
consequently,  a  quantity  of  goods  in  his  house. 
He  was  gomg  with  his  wife  to  Pittsburg,  and 
they  were  shutting  up  the  house ;  as  no  person 


[aving 
re  him 
ned  in 
bacco. 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


133 


I  given 

ad,  "  I 

y  to  his 

•s ;  you 

it  was 

;  right : 

in  say, 

'  rum.* 

'    So 

down 

man 

w,  me 


nestly. 

when 
whites ; 
imies ; 

tribe. 
I,  says 

;d  bv 
had, 

kouse. 
and 

)erson 


;j^.. 


remained  in  it  during  their  absence.  This  shut- 
ting up  was  nothing  else  than  putting  a  large 
block,  with  a  few  sticks  of  wood,  outside  against 
the  door,  so  as  to  keep  it  closed.  As  I  was  look- 
ing at  this  man  with  attention,  while  he  was  so 
employed,  he  addressed  me  in  these  words: — 

'^  See,  my  friend,  this  is  an  Indian  lock  that  I 
am  putting  to  my  door." 

I  answered,  '*  Well  enough ;  but  I  see  you 
leave  much  property  in  the  house :  are  you  not 
afraid  that  thoii  articles  will  be  stolen  while  you 
are  gone?"  r*, 

"Stolen!  by  whom?" 

"  Why,  by  Indians,  to  be  sure." 

"  No,  no,"  replied  he,  "  no  Indian  would  doA 
such  a  thing.     Unless  a  white  man,  or  white  peo- 
ple, should  happen  to  come  this  way,  I  shall  find 
all  safe  on  my  return." 

Basil.  If  we  were  to  leave  our  doors  in  that 
way,  our  houses  would  be  sure  to  be  robbed. 

hunter.  No  doubt  they  would ;  but  Indians 
have  good  and  bad  qualities.  The  notion  enter- 
tained by  the  Iroquois  Indians,  respecting  the 
creation  of  mankind,  will  shov/  how  ignorant  they 
are  with  respect  to  the  Creator  of  all  things ;  but, 
indeed,  if  the  blessed  book  of  truth  were  not  in  • 
our  hands,  we  should  be  equally  ignorant  our- 
selves. Before  man  existed,  say  they,  there  were 
three  great  and  good  spirits ;  of  whom  one  was 
superior  to  the  other  two,  and  is  emphatically 
called  the  Great  Spirit  and  the  Good  Spirit.  At 
■  a  certain  time,  this  exalted  being  said  to  one  of 
the  others,  "  Make  a  man."    He  obeyed ;  and, 

12  . 


l-f 


■t-l'Tr-r 


..^^. 


^^^ 


134 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


ll' 


li 


now  try 
ed  an  In- 
'is  a  pro- 


I  I 


i 


*  taking  chalk,  formed  a  paste  of  it,  and  moulding 
'  *  it  into  the  human  form,  infused  into  it  the  ani- 
mating  principle,  and  brought  it  to  the   Great 
Spirit.     He,  after  surveying  it,  said,"  This  is  too 
■white."  '*     A     1^ 

He  then  directed  the  other  to  make  a  trial  of 
his  skill.  Accordingly,  taking  charcoal,  he  pur- 
sued the  same  process,  and  brought  the  result  to 
the  Great  Spirit ;  who,  after v^rvey in g  it,  said, 
"It  is  too  black." 

Then  said  the  Great  Spirh 
myself;"  and  taking  red  earth, 
dian.  On  surveying  it,  he  said,  " 
per  or  perfect  man." 
Hi  After  relating  the  strange  opinion  of  the  Iroquois 
Indians,  the  hunter  advised  the  young  people,  on 
their  return  home,  to  look  over  the  account  of  the 
creation  of  the  world  and  mankind,  in  the  first 
chapter  of  Genesis ;  telling  them  that  they  could 
not  be  too  thankful  for  the  opportunity  of  reading 
God's  word,  which  was  not  only  sufficient  to 
keep  them  from  error  in  such  things,  but  was  able 
also  to  make  them  "  wise  unto  salvation  through 
faith  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus."  He  told  them, 
that  though  the  Indians  were  ignorant  of  holy 
things,  they  did  not  want  shrewdness  and  sagacity. 
"  When  General  Lincoln,"  said  he,  "  went  to 
make  peace  with  the  Creek  Indians,  one  of  the 
chiefs  asked  him  t.  sit  down  on  a  log ;  he  was 
'  then  desired  to  move,  and,  in  a  few  minutes,  to 
move  still  farther.  The  request  was  repeated,; 
until  the  general  got  to  the  end  of  the  lo^  The 
Indian  still  said,  'Move  farther;'  to  which  tjje 


*^-' 


ifc> 


,^. 


■r   ■ 


♦.'•    -?i*'l«',  ' 


it  to 
able 

DUgh 

em, 
holy 
city, 
t  to 
the> 
was 
,  to 


iThe 


t 


.i^SSiS'' 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


135 


general  replied,  *I  can  move  no  farther.'  *  Just 
so  it  is  with  us,'  said  the  chief.  *  You  have 
mov^  us  hack  to  the  water,  and  then  ask  us  to 
movefiitftier!^^  ^^k 

In  the  account  of  his  expedition  to  the  foot  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  in  1821,  Major  Long  re- 
lates the  following  anecdote  of  a  Pawnee  brave, 
son  of  Red  Knife,  who,  in  the  succeeding  winter, 
visited  the  city  of  Washington,  during  the  session 
of  Congress.  "' 

'Ehis  brave,  ^  fine  size,  figure  and  counte- 
nance, is  now  about  twenty-five  years  old.  ..  At 
the  age  of  twenty-one,  his  heroic  deeds  ha^>  ac- 
quired for  him  in  his  nation  the  rank  of  the  brarest 
of  the  braves.  The  savage  practice  of  tortuiin^||| 
and  burning  to  death  their  prisoners  existed  in^ 
this  nation.  An  unfortunate  female,  of  the  Padueav S 
nation,  taken  in  war,  was  destined  to  this  horrid 
death.  •  *      %*: 

The  fatal  hour  had  arrived.  The  trembling 
victim,  far  from  her  home  and  her  friends,  was 
fastened  to  the  stake.  The  whole  triba^were  as- 
sembled on  the  surrounding  plains  to  wiiness  the 
awful  scene. 

Just  as  the  funeral  pile  was  to  be  kindled,  and 
the  whole  multitude  of  spectators  were  on  the 
tiptoe  of  expectation,  this  young  warrior,  having, 
unnoticed,  prepared  two  fleet  horses,  with  the  ne- 
cessary provisions,  sprang  from  his  seat,  rushed 
through  the  crowd,  liberated  the  victim,  seized 

r  in  his  arms,  placed  her  on  one  of  the  horses, 

oun||!|l  the  other  himself,  and  made  the  utmost 

Cjpd  towards  the  nation  and  friends  of  the  c^|ive 


^ 


r-. 


■■•t.'W' 


136 


THE   INDIANS  OF 


*^ 


The  multitude,  dumb  and  nerveless  with  amaze- 
ment at  the  daring^deed,  made  no  effort  to  rescue 
their  victim  from  her  deliverer.  They  yiewed 
it  as  the  immediate  act  of  the  Great  Spirit,  sub- 
mitted to  it  without  a  murmur,  and  quietly  re- 
tired to  their  village.  -f^  j» 

The  released  captive  w^as.  accompanied  three 
days  through  the  wilderness,  towards  her  home. 
Her  deliverer  then  gave  her  the  horse  on  which 
she  rode,  and  the  necessary  ppvisions  for  the 
remainder  of  the  journey,  and  thc^y  parted. 

On  his  return  to  the  village,  such  was  his  po- 
\  pularity,  that  no  inquiry  was  made  into  his  con- 
duct, and  no  censure  was  passed  upon  it.  Since 
Ulthis  transaction  no  human  sacritice  has  been 
offered  in  this  or  any  other  of  the  Pawnee  tribes; 
the  practice  is  abandoned.  How  influential  is  one 
bold  act  in  a  good  cause !  This  deed  illustrates 
a  grand  principle,  boys.  It  is  by  such  men  that 
great  reformations  are  made  in  the  world,  and 
y'it  there  is  no  mystery  in  it.  Every  one  is  capa- 
ble of  doing  that  which  he  knows  to  be  right,  re- 
gardless of  the  opinions  of  wicked  men,  or  the 
habits  of  the  weak  and  foolish,  who  follow  customs 
which  have  no  apology  but  that  others  have  done 
so  before. 

The  publication  of  this  anecdote  at  Washing- 
ton led  some  young  ladies,  in  a  manner  highly 
creditable  to  their  good  sense  and  good  feeling,  to 
present  this  brave  and  humane  Indian  with  a 
handsome  silver  medal,  with  appropriate  in- 
scriptions, as  a  token  of  their  sincere  commenda- 
tion of  the  noble  act  of  rescuing  one  of  their  sex» 


\ 


S*m 


■f  > 


MW^ 


« 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


137 


ily 

to 

a 

m- 

a- 


an  innocent  victim,  from  a  cruel  death.  Their 
address,  delivered  on  this  occasion,  is  sensible 
and  appropriate,  closing  as  follows : 

"  Brother — Accept  this  token  of  our  esteem ; 
always  wear  it  for  our  sakes  ;  and  when  again  you 
have  the  power  to  save  a  poor  woman  from  death 
and  torture,  think  of  this,  and  of  us,  and  fly  to  her 
relief  and  rescue." 

To  this  the  Pawnee  made  the  following  reply : — 

"  Brothers  and  sisters — This  medal  will  give  me 
ease  more  than  I  ever  had  ;  and  I  will  listen  more 
than  I  ever  did  to  white  men. 
*  "  I  am  glad  that  my  brothers  and  sisters  have 
heard  of  the  good  deed  that  I  have  done.  My 
brothers  and  sisters  think  that  I  have  done  it  in  v 
ignorance,  but  I  now  know  what  I  Hive  done. 

"  I  did  do  it  in  ignorance,  and  I  did  not  know 
that  I  did  good ;  but  by  ^our  giving  me  this  medal 
I  know  it." 

The  cruelty  of  torturing  and  burning  a  captive, 
the  great  danger  of  the  female  Indian,  and  the 
noble  daring  of  the  Pawnee  brave,  formed  the 
subject  of  conversation  for  some  time  among  the 
young  people ;  and  Austin  was  unbounded  in  his 
approbation  of  the  Pawneci  Willingly  would  he 
have  contributed  towards  another  silver  medal  for 
him,  and  Brian  and  Basil  would  not  have  been 
backward  in  doing  their  part ;  but  the  affair  ap- 
peared hardly  practicable,  inasmuch  as  a  reason-* 
able  doubt  existed  whether  the  Pa\vnee  brave  . 
was  still  alive  ;  and,  even  if  he  were,  there  seemed 
to  be  no  direct  way  of  communicating  with  him. 

12*  . 


'>..*,^ 


m 


*■ 


138 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


iNi. 


.  Indian  Horsemanship.— Page  160. 

^  CHAPTER  X. 


"Remember,"  said  Austin,  as  he  urged  his 
brothers  to  quicken  their  pace  on  their  way  to  the 
cottage,  "  we  have  hardly  heard  any  thing  yet 
about  buffaloes  and  grizzly  bears,  and  other  ani- 
mals which  are  found  in  the  woods  and  the 
prairie.  Let  us  make  haste,  that  we  may  have  a 
long  visit." 

Brian  and  Basil,  being  almost  as  anxious  as 
their  brother  to  hear  all  about  bears  and  buffaloes, 
quickened  their  pace  as  he  desired  them,  so  that 
no  long  period  had  passed,  before  the  hunter,  at 
the  requiest  of  his  youthful  visitors,  was  engaged 
in  giving  them  the  desired  account. 

"The  different  animals  and  birds,"  said  he, 
"  tli^t  inhabit  different  countries,  for  the  most  part, 


'5*  ' 
Iff     -J 


^ 


^ 


«»v 


M  ,  *  ■:- 


u<^~- 


las 
^s, 
[at 
lat 
id 


h 


f 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


139* 


roam  backwards  and  forwards,  according  to  the 
season.  Creatures  that  love  the  cold  move  north- 
erly in  summer,  and  such  as  delight  in  a  wanner 
clime  move  southerly  in  winter.  It  is,  however, 
principally  to  obtain  food  that  they  remove  from 
one  place  to  another.  I  must  here  explain  to  you, 
that  though  I  have,  in  common  with  most  others 
who  use  these  terms,  spoken  of  buffaloej,  the 
animal  which  abounds  in  the  prairie  is  not  pro- 
perly the  buffalo,  but  the  bison." 

Austin.  But  if  they  are  bisons,  why  are  they 
called  buffaloes  ? 

«  Hunter.  That  is  a  question  that  I  hardly  k?i^ 
how  to  answer.  From  whatever  Jj^use  it 
have  arisen,  certain  it  is,  that  the  lilme  of 
has  become  common;  and,  that  being  Jilft^ii^, 
it  is  used  in  conversation,  and  oftentimefil  books, 
as  being  more  easily  understood.  "^^ 

Brian.  What  is  the  difference  between  a  buf- 
falo and  a  bison?  4  * 

Hunter.  A  buffalo  is  an  animal  that  abounds 
in  Africa,  resembling  an  ugly  cow,  with  a  body 
long,  but  rather  low ;  and  very  long  horns.  But 
the  bison  stands  very  high  in  front,  has  a  hump 
on  the  back  part  of  the  neck  covered  with  long 
hair,  short  horns,  and  a  profusion  of  long  shaggy 
hair  hanging  from  its  head,  neck  and  fore-legs. 

Austin.  Then  a  bison  must  look  much  fiercer 
than  a  buffalo. 

Hunter.  He  does ;  and  from  the  circumstance 
of  his  fore-parts  standing  high,  while  he  carries 
his  head  low,  he  always  appears  as  if  he  were 
about  to  run  at  you.     Bisons  abound  throughout 


',*^ 


->; 


-m. 


!^;. 


,  I   / 


^■.. 


140 


THE   INDIANS   OF 


I 


the  whole  of  our  country,  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi ;  but  the  reckless  way  in  which  they  are 
slaughtered,  and  the  spread  of  civilization,  are 
likely,  in  a  few  years,  greatly  to  decrease  their 
numbers.  Indians  suffer  much  from  hunger,  but 
they  are  very  reckless  when  buffaloes  are  plenti- 
ful. On  one  occasion,  when  among  the  Minata- 
rees,  I  witnessed  a  grand  capture  of  buffaloes.  It 
"was  effected  by  different  parties  taking  different 
directions,  and  then  gradually  approaching  each 
other.  The  herd  was  thus  hemmed  in  on  all  sides, 
and  the  slaughter  was  terrible.  The  unerring 
rifle,  the  sharp  spe:ir  and  the  winged  arrow,  ha4 
full  employ ;  and  so  many  buffaloes  were  slain, 
that,  after  taking  their  tongues  and  other  choice 
parts  of  them  for  food,  hundreds  of  carcasses  were 
left  for  the  prairie- wolves  to  devour.  Thus  it  is 
that  man,  whether  savage  or  civilized,  too  often 
becomes  prodigal  of  the  abundance  he  enjoys,  and 
knows  not  the  value  of  what  he  possesses,  till 
taught  by  that  want  into  which  his  thoughtless 
"waste  has  plunged  him. 

Austin.  Ay,  they  will  soon  kill  all  the  buffa- 
loes, if  they  go  on  in  that  manner. 
I  Hunter.  At  present,  they  are  to  be  seen  on  the 
prairie  in  droves  of  many  thousands ;  the  woods, 
also,  abound  with  them  ;  and  often,  in  the  heat  of 
summer,  an  incalculable  number  of  heads  and 
horns  are  visible  in  the  rivers,  the  bodies  of  the 
bisons  being  under  the  water. 

Brian.     What,  because  they  are  so  hot  ? 

Hunter.   Yes :  the  bison  suffers  very  much  from 
heat.     It  is  no  uncommon  thing  to  see  a  bison  bull  > 


ir? 


4 


'4 


la- 
the 
Is, 
of 
Ind 
the 


,*.■"' 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


141 


lay  himself  down  in  a  puddle  of  water,  and  turn 
himself  round  and  round  in  it,  till  he  has  half 
covered  his  body  with  mud.  The  puddle  hole 
which  he  thus  makes  is  called  a  bison  or  buffalo 
wallow.  The  puddle  cools  him  while  he  is  in 
it,  and  when  he  quits  it,  the  mud  plastered  on  his 
sides  defends  him  from  the  burning  heat  of 
the  sun. 

Basil.  What  a  figure  a  bison  bull  must  cut, 
with  his  shaggy  hair  and  his  sides  plastered  ali 
over  with  mud ! 

Hunter.  Bears  are  often  most  formidable  foes 
to  the  hunter ;  but  there  is  this  striking  difference 
between  the  common  bear  and  the  grizzly  bear, 
that  while  the  former  eats  mostly  vegetables,  and 
will  do  his  best  to  get  out  of  your  way,  the  latter 
eats  nothing  but  flesh,  and  is  almost  sure  to  attack 
you.  Hunters  and  Indians  make  it  a  rule  never 
to  fire  at  a  grizzly  bear,  unless  in  self-defence : 
exce^it  in  cases  when  they  have  a  strong  party, 
or  can  fire  from  a  tree ;  for,  when  he  is  wounded, 
his  fury  knows  no  bounds. 

Austin.  How  can  you  escape  from  a  grizzly 
bear,  if  he  is  so  very  terrible  ? 

Hunter.  The  common  bear  can  climb  a  tree, 
as  I  have  already  told  you  ;  but  the  grizzly  bear 
is  no  climber.  If  you  have  time  to  get  up  into  a 
tree,  you  are  safe  :  if  not,  you  must  reserve  your 
shot  till  the  animal  is  near  you,  that  you  may  take 
a  steady  aim.  You  must  then  fight  it  out  in  the 
best  way  you  can.  Grizzly  bears  are  sometimes 
of  a  very  large  size,  measuring;  from  nine  to  ten 
feet  in  length.     It  was  on  the  Upper  Missouri  that 


"W 


■s' 


r«w- 


•  «- 


■^\ 


142 


THE   INDIANS    OF 


I  was  once  chased  by  one  of  these  terrible  fellows, 
and  a  narrow  escape  I  had. 

Austin,     How  was  it  ?     Tell  us  all  about  it. 

Hunter.  I  had  just  fired  off  my  rifle  at  a  bird 
which  I  took  for  an  eagle,  little  thinking  how 
soon  my  wasted  bullet  (for  I  did  not  strike  the 
bird)  would  be  wanted  in  defence  of  my  life.  The 
crack  of  my  piece  reverberated  from  the  green- 
topped  blufis  that  rose  from  the  prairie ;  and  I 
suppose  it  was  this  that  brought  Sir  Bruin  upon 
me.  He  came  on  with  huge  strides,  and  I  had 
nothing  but  a  hunting-knife  to  use  in  m>  defence, 
my  discharged  rifle  being  of  no  use.  There  was 
no  tree  near,  so  throwing  down  my  piece,  I  drew 
my  knife  as  a  forlorn  hope  in  my  extremity. 

Austin,    A  hunting-knife  against  a  grizzly  bear ! 

Hunter.  When  the  huge  monster  was  within 
a  few  yards  of  me,  to  my  amazement,  I  heard  the 
report  of  two  rifles,  and  in  the  same  instant  my 
tremendous  foe  fell,  with  two  bullets  in  his  head. 
This  timely  assistance  was  rendered  me  by  two  of 
our  party,  who,  having  followed  my  track,  were 
near  me  when  I  thought  myself  alone. 

Austin.     Never  was  any  one  in  greater  danger. 

Hunter.  I  will  tell  you  an  anecdote  that  I  have 
read  of  a  common  bear.  A  boy,  about  eight 
years  old,  was  sent  by  his  mother  into  the  woods, 
to  bring  home  the  old  cow.  At  the  distance  of 
somewhat  more  than  half  a  mile,  he  found  her, 
attended  by  some  young  cattle.  He  began  to  drive 
them  home  ;  but  had  not  proceeded  far,  when  a 
bear  came  out  of  the  bushes,  and  seemed  disposed 
to  make  his  acquaintance. 


' 


% 


iW 


ive 

Ight 

]ds, 

of 

ve 

a 

ed 


'i 


t 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


143 


•^  The  boy  did  not  like  his  company ;  so  he  jump-;, 
ed  upon  the  old  cow's  back,  and  held  on  by  her 
horns.  She  set  out  at  full  speed,  and  the  bear 
after  her.  The  young  cattle,  lifting  their  tails  in 
the  air,  brought  up  the  rear.  Thus  they  proceed- 
ed, the  young  ones  behind  frequently  coming  up 
to  the  bear,  and  giving  hhn  a  thrust  with  their 
horns. 

This  compelled  him  to  turn  round,  and  thus  the 
old  cow,  with  her  brave  rider,  got  somewhat  in 
advance.  The  bear  then  gallopped  on,  and,  ap- 
proaching the  boy,  attempted  to  seize  him ;  but 
the  old  cow  cantered  along,  and  finally  brought 
the  boy  to  his  mother's  house  in  safety.  The 
bear,  thinking  he  should  not  be  welcome  there, 
after  approaching  the  house,  turned  about  and 
scampered  back  to  the  forest.  Sir  Bniin  knew 
when  he  was  well  off;  a  whole  skin  is  the  best 
covering  a  bear  can  have ;  but,  if  he  ventures 
among  mankind,  he  is  likely  enough  to  have  it 
stripped  over  his  ears.  • 

Austin,  That  was  a  capital  old  cow,  for  she 
saved  the  boy's  life. 

Basil.  But  the  young  cattle  helped  her,  fbr 
they  pushed  the  bear  with  their  horns. 

Brian.     Please  to  tell  us  about  wild  horses. 

Hunter.  The  hordes  or  bands  of  wild  horses 
that  abound  in  some  of  the  prairies,  are  supposed 
to  be  the  offspring  of  Spanish  horses,  brought  to 
Mexico  by  Europeans.  They  are  extremely  shy, 
keen  in  their  sight  and  swift  of  foot,  so  that  to 
come  up  with  them,  except  by  surprise,  is  no  easy 
thing.    I  have  seen  them  in  great  numbers  from 


;"*'' 


;t<". 


■SC:- 


'"^^ 


'i^' 


,fc  A^ 


}^' 


't''T 


t 


f, 


U:\' 


i 


it.  ''■>*  ■_ 


144 


THE   INDIANS  OF 


the  brow  of  a  blufT,  or  have  peeped  at  them  cau- 
tiously from  a  ravine.  *€  ♦ 

Jiustin.  Wliat  kind  of  horses  are  they ;  and 
of  what  colour  ? 

Hunter.  Some  of  them  are  fine  animals,  but 
in  general  they  are  otherwise.  Stunted  and  coarse 
in  appearance,  they  are  of  various  colours — bay, 
chestnut,  cream,  gray,  piebald,  white  and  black, 
with  long  tails,  fetlocks,  top-knots  and  manes. 

Brian.     How  do  they  catch  them  ? 

Hunter.  In  different  ways.  Sometimes  a  well- 
mounted  Indian,  armed  with  his  rifle,  follows  a 
horde  of  horses,  until  he  can  get  a  fair  shot  at  the 
best  among  them.  He  aims  at  the  top  of  the  neck, 
and  if  he  succeeds  in  striking  the  high  gristle 
there,  it  stuns  the  animal  for  the  moment,  when 
he  falls  to  the  ground  without  being  injured.  This 
is  called  creasing  a  horse ;  but  a  bad  marksman 
would  kill,  and  not  crease,  the  noble  animal  he 
seeks  to  subdue. 

Austin.  What  other  way  is  ihere  of  catching 
wild  horses  ?  for  that  seems  to  be  a  very  bad  one. 

Basil.  It  is  a  vory  bad  way.  The"  ought  not 
to  shoot  them. 

Hunter.  They  are  much  more  commonly  taken 
with  the  lasso  ;  which  is  a  thong  at  least  a  dozen 
yards  long,  ending  in  a  noose.  This  the  Indians 
throw,  at  full  gallop,  over  the  head  of  the  flying 
steed  they  wish  to  secure.  Rarely  do  they  miss 
their  aim.  When  a  horse  is  thus  caught,  the 
hunter  leaps  from  his  steed,  and  lets  out  the  lasso 
gradually,  choking  his  captive  till  he  is  obliged 
to  stop :  he  then  contrives  to  hopple  or  tie  his  fore- 


\ 


■'4m: 


'W 


^' 


I   !-        ,  """TH  AMERICA.  ,45 

^««/w.    Brp^rhJ  •'  u-    '°  '*^''  him  home 
does  he  do  ££^  '"  *"*  "°^'"'« '    WhyTwhat 

more  manageable.    lUs  saW    rM""  '=''P»'''«  ' 
brealhes  freely  into  «,»„„./•/  *,*'  "^  «"  Indian 
'""falo  on  the  nnil  .L      '"''  "^  «  ^'^  young 

^•i.h,thatihrvenot'i:rd"  rrir^ «»«"' 

or  panther,  or  American  C   for    ""  ""^  "rS"'' 
these  names.    Now  nnH  .{.    '  f  '  ''  Soes  by  all 

the  thick  foresS  he  tlV.  '°u  ^'  ^^*»  '« 

as  a  Newfounr'aZ  wL       P^-^'nencaisasW 
looking  animal.:-!^    I'C  "  1"%'  "^^age?* 
solita.y  places  he  preft  K  ^'  T  ^''^^ 
hunger-pressed,  he  atS  fl.  f  V'  i""'  ^""en 
Mr.  Grizzly-skn  losM  no  ff    '•  '  '^«'- ^hich, 

cunning.         '  ^    '  ^^-  Gnzzly-back  is  very 
.:,.4  ^"""^jj^'^^es  hunt  after  deerj* 


» 


« 


w 


wV. 


m. 


v<«*^ 


146 


THE  INDIANS  0]> 


■  A'.' 


^hich  they  generally  overtake ;  or  keep  close  to 
a  buflfalo  herd,  feeding  on  such  as  die,  or  on  those 
that  are  badly  wounded  in  fighting  with  one 
another.  The  white,  black,  and  clouded  wolves 
are  in  the  northern  parts.  There  are  many  kinds 
of  deef.  I  told  you,  that  sometimes  a  deer-hunt 
took  place  on  a  large  scale,  by  enclosing  a  circle, 
^  and  uriving  the  deer  into  it.     In  shooting  ante- 

'j  lopes,  the  hunter  has  only  to  stick  up  his  ramrod 
in  the  ground  in  their  neighbourhood,  and  throw 
over  it  his  handkerchief;  while  he,  with  his  rifle 
ready  loaded,  lies  on  the  grass  near  at  hand.  The 
antelopes  will  soon  approach  the  handkerchief  to 
see  what  it  is,  when  the  hunter  may  make  them 
an  eas3r  prey.  The  largest  deer  is  the  moose  deer, 
which  is  ojbn  se^en  feet  high.  He  is  an  awk- 
ward, overgrown-looking  creature,  with  broad 
horns ;  but,  awkward  as  he  is,  I  question  if  any 
of  you  could  outrun  him.  Mountain  and  valley, 
lake  and  river,  seem  alike  to  him,  for  he  crosses 
^  them  all.  In  the  snow,  to  be  sure,  the  unwearied 
and  persevering  hound  will  overtake  him;  but 
let  him  beware  of  his  horns,  or  he  will  be  flying 
head  over  heels  in  the  air  in  a  twinkling.  The 
moose  deer,  however,  cannot  successfully  strive 
with  the  hunter's  rifle.  j»w 

Austin,  Nothing  can  stand  against  man. 

Hunter.  And  yet  what  is  mail  opposed  to  his 
Maker  ?  His  strength  is  perfect  weakness !  In  a 
moment,  in  a  twinkling  of  an  eye,  he  "  changes 
his  countenance,  and  sends  him  away." 

Ba^iL  What  other  kinds  of  deer  do  Indians 
catch } 


« 


«» 


'•* , 


^iip' 


tnve 

|o  his 

|In  a 
pges 

Hans 


l|*  «v 


NORTH  AMERICA.* 


155 


m  4" 


Buffalo  Dance. 


CHAPTER  XL 


Buffaloes,  bears,  wild  horses,  wolves,  deer, 
prairie-dogs  and  musk-rats,  were  a  fruitful  source 
of  conversation  to  the  young  people  in  their  lei- 
Sure  hours,  until  such  time  as  they  could  again  visit 
their  interesting  friend  at  the  cottage.  Various 
plans  were  formed  to  attack^grizzly  bears,  to  catch 
wild  horses,  and  to  scare  away  half-famished 
wol^es^n  all  of  which,  Jowler,  notwithstanding 
his  oHWehaviour  at  the  buffalo  hunt,  was  ex- 
pected to  act  a  distinguished  part.  Black  Tom 
was  scarcely  considered  worth  thinking  about,  he 
being  too  wild  by  half  for  a  wild  horse,  and  too 
faint-hearted  for  a  grizzly  bear.  At  one  time,  it? 
was  so  fer  determined  for  him  tq^iplay  the  part  of 
a  prairie-dog,  that  Austin  set  abdit  digging  a  hole 

■*■■■  -  ' ,    •  i 

>*/, 


w 


'''K   >-' 


A 


^. 


156 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


for  him  :  before  it  was  finished,  however,  the  plan 
was  abandoned  ;  Brian  and  Basil  both  feeling  posi- 
tive that,  let  Austin  dig  a  hole  as  deep  as  he 
would,  Black  Tom  would  never  be  persuaded  to 
run  into  it. 

After  much  deliberation,  catching  wild  horses 
being  given  up — on  the  score  that  Black  Tom 
would  run  away  too  fast,  and  Jowler  would  not 
run  "away  at  all — a  bear  hunt  was  resolved  on, 
having,  as  Brian  observed,  two  especial  advan- 
tages :  the  first,  that  all  of  them  could  enjoy  the 
sport  at  once ;  and  the  second,  that  Jowler  would 
l^e  sure  to  attack  them  all,  just  like  a  grizzly  bear. 
^  No  time  was  lost  in  preparing  their  long  spears, 
and  in  dressing  themselves  as  much  like  renowned 
chiefs  as  their  knowledge  and  resources  would  al- 
low. And,  in  order  that  Jowler  mi^ht  the  more 
closely  resemble  a  grizzly  bear,  a  white  apron  was 
spread  over  his  broad  back,  and  tied  round  his 
neck.  The  lawn  was,  as  before,  the  scene  of  their 
exploits,  the  prairie  on  which  the  fearful  monster 
was  to  be  overcome ;  and,  to  the  credit  of  their 
courage  be  it  spoken,  neither  Austin,  Brian  nor 
Basil,  manifested  the  slightest  token  of  fear. 
.  Jowler  was  led  by  them  among  the  bushes  of  the 
shrubbery,  that  he  might  burst  out  upoi^^ej|^ll 
at  once ;  and  this  part  of  the  arrangememHyPer- 
ed  excellently  well,  only  that  Jowler  arri^|  on 
the  prairie  first  instead  of  last ;  add  to  which",  the 
bushes  having  so  far  despoiled  him  of  his  grizzly 
hide,  the  white  apron,  as  to  have  pulled  it  off  his 
back,  he  set  to  work  mouthing  and  tearing  at  it, 
to  get  it  from  his  neck.    At  last,  in  spite  of  a  few 


m, 


•»N 


j'^' 


% 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


im 


untoward  and  unbearlike  actions  on  the  part  of 
Jowler,  the  attack  took  place.  With  undaunted 
resolution,  Austin  sustained  Jowler's  most  furious 
charges ;  Brian  scarcely  manifested  less  bravery ; 
and  Tittle  Basil,  though  he  had  broken  his  lance, 
and  twice  fallen  to  the  earth,  made  a  desperate  and 
successful  attack  on  his  fearful  antagonist,  and 
caught  him  fast  by  the  tail.  It  was  on  the  whole 
a  capital  adventure ;  for  though  they  could  not 
with  truth  say  that  they  had  killed  the  bear,  neither 
could  the  bear  say  that  he  had  killed  them.  r 

The  bear  hunt  being  at  an  end,  they  set  off  for 
the  cottage ;  for  the  hunter  had  promised  to  de- 
scribe to  them  some  of  the  games  of  the  Indian 
tribes,  and  he  was  soon  engaged  in  giving  them  an 
account  of  the  ball-play  of  the  Choctaws.  "At 
the  Choctaw  ball-play  thousands  of  spectators  at- 
tend, and  sometimes  a  thousand  young  men  are 
engaged  in  the  game." 

Hunter.  It  is  played  in  the  open  prairie,  and 
the  players  have  no  clothes  on  but  their  trowsers, 
a  beautiful  belt  formed  of  beads,  a  mane  of  dyed 
horse-hair  of  different  colours,  and  a  tail  sticking 
out  from  behind  like  the  tail  of  a  horse  ;  this  last 
is  either  formed  of  white  horse-hair  or  of  quills. 
-j^TM^    And  how  do  they  play  ?  n  '  >f 

HumSr,  Every  man  has  two  sticks,  with  a 
kind  of  hoop  at  the  end,  webbed  across,  and 
with  these  they  catch  and  strike  the  ball.  The 
goal  on  each  side,  consisting  of  two  upright  posts 
>pnd  a  pole  across  the  top,  is  set  up  twenty-five 
feet  high  ;  these  goals  are  from  forty  to  fifly  rods 
apart.     Every  time  either  party  can  Itrike  the  ball 

14  ^.  ^^ 


# 


% 


J 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


through  their  goal,  one  is  reckoned,  and  a  hundred 
is  the  game. 

Basil.  What  a  scuffle  there  must  be  among  so 
many  of  them ! 

Hunter,     When  fevery  thing  is  ready  for  the 
game  to  begin,  a  gun  is  fired ;  and  some  old  men, 
"who  are  to  be  the  judges,  fling  up  the  ball  in  the 
middle,  half-way  between  the  two  goals,     f      , 
*  Brian,     Now  for  the  struggle.  '•a     ' 

L  Hunter,  One  party  being  painted  white,  every 
man  knows  his  opponent.  No  sooner  is  the  ball 
in  the  air,  than  a  rush  takes  placS.  Every  one 
with  his  webbed  stick  raised  above  his  head ;  no 
one  is  allowed  to  strike  or  to  touch  the  ball  with  his 
hands.  They  cry  out  aloud  at  the  very  top  of 
their  voices,  rush  on,  leap  up  to  strike  the  ball, 
and  do  all  they  can  to  help  their  own  side  and 
hinder  their  opponents.  They  leap  over  each 
other,  dart  between  their  rivals'  legs,  trip  them  up, 
throw  them  down,  grapple  with  two  or  three  at  a 
time,  and  often  fall  to  fisticuffs  in  right  earnest. 
There  thfey  are,  in  the  midst  of  clouds  of  dust, 
running,  striking  and  struggling  with  all  their 
might ;  so  that,  what  with  the  rattle  of  the  sticks, 
the  cries,  the  wrestling,  the  bloody  noses,  the 
bruised  shins,  the  dust,  uproar  and  confusiJb^  such 
a  scene  of  excitement  is  hardly  to  be  equalled  by 
any  other  game  in  the  world.  '  ♦  ♦- 
?   Brian,     How  long  does  the  game  last? 

Hunter,  It  begins  about  eight  or  nine  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  and  sometimes  is  scarcely  finished 
by  sunset.  A  minute'^  rest  is  allowed  every  time 
the  ball  is  uf^  beyond  the  goal,  and  then  the 


f . 


f 

t.^?:; 


■L 


wrrnastmoK 


iiiiimlij*— — — I 


umif 


and 
each 


• 


Xi^' 


NORTH    AMERICA. 


159 


game  goes  on  again  till  it  is  finished.  There  is 
another  ball-play  somewhat  resembling  this,  which 
is  played  by  the  women  of  the  Prairie  du  Chien, 
while  the  men  watch  the  progress  of  the  game,  or 
lounge  on  the  ground,  laughing  at  them. 

Austin,     Do  they  ever  run  races  ?  -    .  v^^ 

Hunter,  Yes,  and  very  expert  they  are.  Many 
of  thjB  tribes  are  extravagantly  fond  of  horses. 
You  see  an  Indian,  with  his  shield  and  quiver,  his 
ornamented  shirt,  leggins,  and  mocassins  ;  his  long 
hair  flowing  leb  id  him,  or  his  head-dress  of  the 
.war-eagle  fallfn  .  a  sefully  neaj^to  his  heels ;  his 
lance  in  his  hand ;  and  his  dreVornamented  with 
ermine,  shells,  porcupine  quills  and  a  profusion 
of  scalp-locks  ;  but.  you  see  him  out  of  character. 
He  should  spring  on  a  horse  wild  as  the  winds ; 
and  then,  as  he  brandished  his  lance,  with  his 
pendent  plumes,  and  hair  and  scalp-locks  waving 
irf  the  breeze,  you  see  him  in  his  proper  element. 
Horse-racing  among  the  Indians  is  an  exciting 
scene.  The  cruel  custom,  of  urging  useful  and 
noble  animals  beyond  their  strength,  is  much  the 
same  in  savage  as  in  civilized  life ;  but  the  scene 
is  oftentimes  more  wiM,  strange,  and  picturesque 
than  you  can  imagine. 

Austin,  Ay,  I  remember  that  the  Camanchees 
are  capital  riders.  I  was  a  Camanchee  in  our 
buffalo  hunt.  Brian,  you  have  not  forgotten  that? 
'i  Brian,  But  you  had  no  horse  to  ride.  I  was 
a  Sioux ;  and  the  Sioux  are  capital  riders  too. 
Basil.  And  so  are  the  Pawnees.  I  was  a 
iwnee  in  the  buffalo  hA.'   * ' v  ^^  .^nlSjp^^ 

X  "f"'  ■'^\^ .        ''    '/-tit 

Hunter,    It  was  told  me  that  theX;amancheesK- 


m: 


,^>. 


'1» 


^; 


% 


it 


\ 


t 


# 


i60  -,„„  14        ^ 

THE  INDIANS  OF       "  J| 

horse's  back;  and  "hat  whl?K*  tf  °^''  'he 

Ws  with  eflec?,  and  LSh'""'''  "^«  *eir 
deadly  aim.     The  CaLnnK     *""  ^"'°*«  with 
their  horses,  that  thetntv     *'  """^  ""  """'h  on 
except  when  they  SlT  ''"■»  »*  «heir  ease 
horaeback.        ^       *>^'"S  across  the  prairie  on 
.  '^'^lin.  It  would  be  wnrii,      • 
nes  if  it  were  oMtoJlf^^""'^  '^  *«  P^i- 
Sunter.  Besid^hn,^      ^\™^"*=''««sride. 

foot-n,ces  and  ctela^t  anT^^^^  have 

djans  are  also  very  fond^f^rl  '^'^^"'S-  The  In- 
their  bows  andZCJr^L^'^''y' "» which,  using 
>s  no  wond«.r  ft  ^^  ^  ""'ch  as  they  do  ,t 

of  the  ":tl.  t^^^faSf  "'•  ThJ  K 
them.  It  is  played  o^  »h?  amusement  with 
is  no  target  set  ?m?  u  °P*"  P^'ne.  There 
«erally;  but  evlr^'i '1*°°'  "'-  as  there  is  g^ 

WgjJ^hep^ToSr"'^'''^^-'  arrew':^ 
in  thS'is^h'e  wir  "*  ''^°  '^°°^'  *e  highest 

«hoS"fee2ltTsl  ^\  ''  1^  ""'  he  who 

=  get  the  Neatest  numbe*  of  l""" '  ''•"*  ''^  ^^o  can 

the  same  time.     Cu^^„   '™*V"'°  *e  air  at 

well-made,  active  you!t*°/°''''^'''«''  a  hundred 


^were 
to  lie 
I  sling 
er  the 
as  thus 
5  their 
s  with 
ich  on 
r  ease 
lie  on 

I  prai- 
ride. 

have 
he  In- 
using 
do,  it 
game 

with 
There 

ge- 
w  as 


fhest 

who 
can 

r  at 
red 
rie. 


'V, 


rapidity  that  is  truly  surprising,  shoots  arrow 
after  arrow  upwards,  so  that,  before  the  first  arrow 
has  reached  the  ground,  half  a  dozen  others  have 
mounted  into  the  air.  Often  have  I  seen  seven  or 
eight  shafts  from  the  same  bow  in  the  air  at  once. 

Austin,  Brian,  we  will  try  what  we  can  do  to- 
morrow ;  but  we  shall  never  have  so  many  as 
seven  or  eight  up  at  once. 

Hunter.  The  Indians  are  famous  swimmers, 
a^,^  indeed,  if  they  were  not,  it  would  often  go 
hard  %ith  them.  They  are  taught  when  very 
young  to  make  their  way  through  the  water,  and 
though  they  do  it  usually  in  a  manner  different 
from  that  of  white  men,  I  hardly  think  many  white 
men  would  equal  them,  either  as  to  their  sp^f " 
or  the  length  of  time  they  wUl  continue  iti  tft 
water.  ■■ 

Austin,  But  how  do  they  swim,  if  their  way  is 
different  from  ours  ?  I  can  swim  a  little,  and  I 
should  like  to  learn  their  way,  if  ir  is  the  best. 

Hunter,  I  am  not  quite  prepared  to  say  tha( ; 
for,  though  red  men  are  more  expert  swimmers 
than  white  men,  that  may  be  owing  to  their  being 
more  frequently  in  the  water.  They  fish  a  great 
deal  in  the  lakes ;  and  they  have  often  to  cross 
brooks  and  rivers  in  too  much  haste  to  allow  them 
to  get  into  a  canoe.  A  squaw  thinks  but  very 
little  of  plunging  into  a  rolling  river  with  a  child 
on  her  back ;  for  the  women  swim  nearly  or 
quite  as  well  as  the  men.  ^n.-.^^mm- 

Austin,  But  you  did  not  tell  us  wherein  their 
sWay  of  swimming  is  diffezmit  from  ours.  ,^ 

Hunter,  Whites  swim  by  striking  out  their  legs 
#   '  ""r'  _..  14*  ^  ■ 


# 


.fi,W 


r>y- 


■■*# 


V 

.  * 


• 


162 


THE   INDIANS   OP 


■J»  •»^'' 


and  both  arms  at  the  same  time,  keeping  their 
breasts  straight  against  the  water ;  but  the  Indian 
strikes  out  with  one  arm  only,  turning  himself  on 
his  side  every  stroke,  first  on  one  side  and  then 
on  the  other,  so  that,  instead  of  his  broad  chest 
breasting  the  water  in  front,  he  cuts  through  it 
sideways,  finding  less  resistance  in  that  way  than 
the  other.  Much  may  be  said  in  favour  of  both 
these  modes.  The  Indian  mode  requires  more 
activity  and  skill,  while  the  other  depends  more 
on  the  strength  of  the  arms,  a  ]K)int  in  which 
they  far  surpass  the  Indian,  who  has  had  little 
exercise  of  the  arms,  and  consequently  but  com- 
paratively little  strength  in  those  limbs.  I  always 
nsidcred  myself  to  be  a  good  swimmer,  but  I 
as  no  match  for  the  Indians.  I  shall  not  soon 
forget  a  prank  t||||  was  once  played  me  on  the 
Knife  River,  by  a^e  of  the  Minatarees ;  it  con- 
vinced me  of  t\^i  adroitness  in  the  water. 

BasiL  WhalRvas  it  ?     Did  they  dip  your  head 
under  the  water  ? 

■  Hunter.  No;  you  shall  hear.  I  -was  crossing 
the  river  in  a  bull-boat,  which  is  nothing  more 
than  a  tub,  made  of  buffalo's  skin,  Sretched  on  a 
framework  of  willow  boughs.  The  tub  "was  just 
large  enough  to  hold  me  and  the  few  things  which 
I  had  with  me ;  when  suddenly  a  group  of  young 
swimmers,  most  of  them  mere  children,  sur- 
rounded me,  and  began  playfully  to  turn  my  tub 
round  and  round  in  the  stream.  Not  being  pre- 
pared to  swim,  on  account  of  my  dress,  I  began 
to  manifest  some  fear  lest  my  poor  tub  ^ould  be 


^*. 


head 


mng 

sur- 

tub 

Ipre- 

]gan 

ba 


V 


r 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


163 


overturned ;  but  the  more  fearful  I  was,  the  better 
pleased  were  my  mirthful  tormentois.    jjjj^ 

Austin,  Ah !  I  can  see  it  spinning  iMmd  like 
a  peg-top,  in  the  middle  of  the  river. 

Brian.     And  did  they  upset  the  tub  ? 

Hunter,  No.  After  amusing  themselves  for 
some  time  at  my  expense,  now  and  then  diving 
under  the  tub,  and  then  pulUng  down  the  edge 
of  it  level  with  the  water,  on  receiving  a  few 
beadsj  or  other  trifles  w^hich  I  happened  to  have 
with'  me,  they  drew  me  and  my  bull-boat  to  the 
shore  in  safety.  They  were  beautiful  swim- 
mers, and,  as  I  told  you,  I  shall  not  soon  forget 
them. 

The  dances  among  the  Indians  are  very  nume* 
rous;  some  of  them  are  lively  enough,  while 
others  are  very  grave;  and||||ien,  most  of  the 
tribes  are  fond  of  relating  adventures. 

There  are  the  buffalo  dance,  the  bear  dance, 
the  dog  dance  and  the  eagle  dance.  And  then 
there  are  the  ball-play  dance,  the  green  corn  dance, 
the  beggars'  dance  the  slave  dance,  the  snow- 
shoe  dance,  and  the  straw  dance;, and,  besides 
these,  there  are  the  discovery-dance,  the  brave 
dance,  the  war  dance,  the  scalp  dance,  the  pipe- 
of-peace  dance,  and  many  others  that  I  do  not  at 
this  moment  remember.     (^* .  ll  « 

Brian,  You  must  please  to  tell  us  about 
them  all. 

Austin,  But  not  all  at  once,  or  else  we  shall 
have  too  short  an  account.  Suppose  you  tell  us 
of  two  or  three  of  them  now.  >« 'i. 

^  Hunter,.  To  describe  every  danct  at  leiJ 


«1"^ 


^:»'t 


%     V^; 


m 


s 


■<t 


i»  ■.. 


164     * 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


...y' 


wiy?,: 


"would  be  tiresome,  as  many  of  them  have  the 
same  (i||acter.  It  will  be  better  to  confine  our- 
selves iW  few  of  the  principal  dances.  I  have 
known  a  bulfalo  dance  continue  for  a  fortnight  or 
longer,  day  and  night,  without  intermission. 
When  I  was  among  the  Mandans,  every  Indian 
had  a  buffalo  mask  ready  to  put  on  whenever  he 
required  it.  It  was  composed  of  the  skin  of  a 
buffalo's  head,  with  the  horns  on  it ;  a  long,  thin 
strip  of  the  buffalo's  hide,  with  the  tail  at  the 
end  of  it,  hanging  down  from  the  back  of  the 
mask. 

Austin.  What  figures  they  would  look  w^ith 
their  masks  on !  Did  you  say  that  they  kept  up 
the  dance  day  and  night? 
*  Hunter,  Yes.  The  Mandans  were  strong  in 
their  village,  butAmparatively  weak  whenever 
they  left  it,  for  then  they  were  Soon  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  their  powerful  enemies.  This  being 
the  case,  when  the  buffaloes  of  the  prairie  wan- 
dered far  away  from  them,  they  were  at  times 
half  starved.  The  buffalo  dance  was  to  make 
buffaloes  come  back  again  to  the  prairies  near 
them.  ^ 

Brian.  But  how  could  they  bring  them  back 
again?  r'^j 

Hunter,  The  bufTalo  dance  was  a  kind  of 
homage  paid  to  the  Great  Spirit,  that  he  might 
take  pity  on  them,  and  send  them  supplies. 
The  dancers  assembled  in  the  middle  of  the  vil- 
lage, each  wearing  his  mask,  with  its  horns  and 
long  tail,  and  carrying  in  his  hand  a  lance,  or  a 
bqw  and  arrows.     The  dance  began,  by  about  a 


%■-  £ 


*  -^r- 


fiitiitiff 


^^^' 


^ 


of 
ght 
ies. 
vil- 
and 


^:   NORTH  AMERICA. 


165 


dozen  of  them  thus  attired,  starting,  hopping, 
jumping  and  creeping  in  all  manner  of  strange, 
uncouth  forms ;  singing,  yelping,  and  making  odd 
sounds  of  every  description,  while  others  were 
shaking  rattles  and  beating  drums  with  all  their 
might;  the  drums,  the  rattles,  the  yelling,  the 
frightful  din,  with  the  uncouth  antics  of  the  danc- 
ers, altogether  presented  such  a  scene,  that,  were 
you  once  to  be  present  at  a  buffalo  dance, 
you  would  talk  of  it  long  after,  and  would  not 
forget  it  all  the  days  of  your  lives. 

Basil.  And  do  they  keep  that  up  for  a  fort- 
night? 

Hunter.  Sometimes '  much  longer,  for  they 
never  give  over  dancing  till  the  buffaloes  come. 
Every  dancer,  when  he  is  tired,  (and  this  he 
makes  known  by  crouching  down  quite  low,)  is 
shot  with  blunt  arrows,  and  dragged  away,  when 
his  place  is  supplied  by  another.  While  the 
dance  is  going  on,  scouts  are  sent  out  to  look  for 
buffaloes,  and  as  soon  as  they  are  found,  a  shout 
of  thanksgiving  is  raised  to  the  Great  Spirit,  to 
the  medicme  man,  and  to  the  dancers,  and  prepa- 
ration is  made  for  a  bufialo  hunt.  After  this,  a 
great  feast  takes  place ;  all  their  sufferings  from 
scarcity  are  forgotten,  and  they  are  as  prodigal, 
and  indeed  wasteful,  of  their  buffalo  meat,  as  if 
they  had  never  known  the  want  of  it. 

Jimtin.  'Well,  I  should  like  to  see  the  buffalo 
dance.  Could  not  we  manage  one  on  the  lawn, 
Brian?  , '^..:-^  U'#f^.' 

Brian.  But  where  are  we  to  get  the  buffalo 
nttsks  from?    The  buffalo  hunt  did  very  well. 


"i». 


k^ 


% 


r/ 


»Vl 


.  *    '  **...    IIL   ■ 


.iW 


l(i6 


THE   INDIANS   OF 


'M^ 


IJ 


yy 


'X 


!#* 


:^rM 


but  I  hardly  think  we  could  manage  the  dance. 
Please  to  tell  us  of  the  bear  dance. 

Hunter.  I  think  it  will  be  better  to  tell  you 
about  that,  and  other  dances,  the  next  time  you 
visit  me ;  for  I  want  to  read  to  you  a  short 
account,  which  I  have  here,  of  a  poor  Indian 
woman  of  the  Dog-ribbed  tribe.  I  have  not  said 
much  of  Indian  women,  and  I  want  you  to  feel 
kindly  towards  them.  It  was  Hearne,  who  went 
with  a  party  from  Hudson's  Bay  to  the  Northern 
Ocean,  many  years  ago,  who  fell  in  with  the  poor 
woman. 

Basil.  Oh,  yes ;  let  us  hear  all  about  her ;  and 
you  can  tell  us  of  the  dances  when  we  come  again. 

Hunter.  Now,  then,  I  will  begin.  One  day 
in  January,  when  they  were  hunting,  they  saw  the 
track  of  a  strange  snow-shoe,  which  they  followed, 
and  at  a  considerable  distance  came  to  a  little  hut, 
where  they  discovered  a  young  woman  sitting 
alone.  On  examination,  she  proved  to  be  one 
of  the  Dog-ribbed  Indians,  who  had  been  taken 
prisoner  by  another  tribe,  in  the  summer  of  1770 ; 
and,  in  the  following  summer,  when  the  Indians 
that  took  her  prisoner  weie  near  this  place,  she 
had  escaped  from  them,  intending  to  return  to  her 
own  country.  But  the  distance  being  so  great, 
and  having,  after  she  was  taken  prisoner,  been 
carried  in  a  canoe  the  whole  way,  the  turnings 
and  windings  of  the  rivers  and  lakes  were  so 
numerous  that  she  forgot  the  track ;  so  she  builtf 
the  hut  in  which  she  was  found,  to  protect  hw^ 
from  the  weather  during  the  winter,  and  here  she|f  ' 
had  resided  from  the  first  setting*in  of  the  fall.„,     ^ 


¥ 


f 


*, 


m-' 


dance. 

ell  you 
me  you 
2  short 
Indian 
lot  said 
to  feel 
10  went 
orthern 
le  poor 

r;  and 

I  again. 

ne  day 

law  the 

[lowed, 

le  hut, 

sitting 

l>e  one 

taken 

1770; 

idians 

s,  she 

oher 

great, 

been 

nings 

re  so 

buiU 

t  hi* 

e  she  e 

11. 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


167 


Brian.  "What,  all  by  herself!  How  lonely 
she  must  have  been ! 

Hunter.  From  her  account  of  the  moon3 
passed  since  her  escape,  it  appeared  that  she  had 
been  nearly  seven  months  without  seeing  a  human 
face ;  during  all  which  time  she  had  supplied 
herself  very  well,  by  snaring  partridges,  rabbits 
and  squirrels :  she  had  also  killed  two  or  three 
beavers,  and  some  porcupines.  She  did  not  seem 
to  have  been  in  want,  and  h^^j^  small  stock  of 
provisions  by  her  when  shf  was 'discovered. 
She  was  in  good  health  and  condition,  and  one 
of  the  finest  of  Indian  women. 

Austin.  I  should  have  been  afraid  that  other 
Indians  would  have  come  and  killed  her. 

Hunter,  The  methods  practised  by  this  poor 
creature  to  procure  a  livelihood  were  truly  admi- 
rable, and  furnish  proof  that  necessity  is  indeed 
the  mother  of  invention.  When  the  few  deer 
sinews,  that  she  had  an  opportunity  of  taking  with 
her,  were  expended,  in  making  snares  and  sewing 
her  clothing,  she  had  nothing  to  supply  their  place 
but  the  sinews  of  the  rabbits'  legs  and  feet.^ 
These  she  twisted  together  for  that  purpose  with 
great  dexterity  and  success.  The  animals  which 
she  caught  in  those  snares,  not  only  furnished  her 
with  a  comfortable  subsistence,  but  of  the  skins 
she  made  a  suit  of  neat  and  warm  clothing  for 
the  winter.  It  is  scarcely  possible  to  conceive 
that  a  person  in  her  forlorn  situation  could  be  so  ^ 
composed  as  to  be  capable  of  contriving  and 
execating  any  thing  that  was  not  absolutely  ne-  g, 
cessary  to  her  existence ;  but  there  was  sufficient 


% 


IT- 


■■* ' 


j^-: 


# 


*'iP 


% 


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THE  INDIANS  OF 


# 


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i.  % 


proof  that  she  had  extended  her  care  much  far- 
ther, as  all  her  clothing,  besides  being  calculated 
for  real  service,  showed  great  taste,  and  exhibited 
no  little  variety  of  ornament.  The  materials, 
though  rude,  were  very  curiously  wrought,  and 
so  judiciously  placed,  as  to  make  the  whole  of 
her  ^arb  have  a  very  pleasant,  though  rather  ro- 
.raantic  appearance. 

Brian,  Poor  woman !  I  should  like  to  have 
seen  her  injh^  IP'^^  ^^^  ^^^  building,  and  the 
clothes  of  Rft  by^Pl^aking. 

Hunter,  Her  leisure  hours  from  hunting  had 
been  employed  in  twisting  the  inner  rind  or  bark 
of  willows  into  small  lines,  like  net-twine,  of 
which  she  had  some  hundred  fathoms  by  her. 
With  these  she  intended  to  make  a  fishing-net,  as 
soon  as  the  spring  advanced.  It  is  of  the  inner 
bark  of  the  willows,  twisted  in  this  manner,  that 
the  Dog-ribbed  Indians  make  their  fishing-nets ; 
and  they  are  much  preferable  to  those  made  by 
the  Northern  Indians. 

Five  or  six  inches  of  an  iron  hoop,  made  into 
a  knife,  and  the  shank  of  an  arrow-head  of  iron, 
which  setved  her  as  an  awl,  were  all  the  metals 
this  poor  woman  had  with  her  when  she  escaped ; 
and  with  these  implements  she  had  made  herself 
complete  snow-shoes,  and  several  other  useful 
articles.  '  **^  ^ 

Austin,.  Capital!  Why,  she  seems  able  to  do 
every  thing.  •  .  >  --uM 

"^Hunter,  Her  me^od  of  making  a  firf  was 
equally  singular  anu  curious,  having  no  ^«ther 
materials  for  that  purpose  than  two  hard  stones. 


%f 


'^■*';,. 


i:^n 


A 


:h  far- 
:ulated 
bibited 
terials, 
it,  and 
lole  of 
her  ro- 

)  have 
nd  the 

1^  had 
)r  bark 
me,  of 
►y  her. 
•net,  as 
i  inner 
)Ty  that 
;-nets ; 
ide  by 

|e  into 
iron, 
ketals 

laped ; 

]erself 

luseful 

Itodo 

was 
>ther 

)nes. 

i .  ■'•^'?' 

sir   -  ■ 


/, 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


169 


These,  by  long  friction  and  hard  knocking,  pro-^^ 
duced  a  few  sparks,  which  at  length  communicat- 
ed to  some  touch- wood.  But  as  this  method  was 
attended  with  great  trouble,  and  not  always  suc- 
cessful, she  did  not  suffer  her  fire  to  go  out  all  the 
winter,  i      . 


?.*» 


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:.'}' 


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THE  INDIANS  OP 


c,  drum,    d,  d,  rattles.'    e,  drum.    /,  mystery 
whistle,    g,  deer-skin  flute. 

CHAPTER  XII. 


**lta 


% 


Never,  sure,  did  young  people  make  a  more 
grotesque  appearance,  than  did  Austin,  Brian,.and 
Basil  Edwards,  in  their  attempt  to  get  up  a  buffalo 
dance.  Each  had  a  mat  over  his  shoulders,  and 
a  brown  paper  mask  over  his  face ;  two  wooden 
pegs  on  a  string  made  a  very  respectable  pair  of 
horns ;  bows  tfnd  arrows  were  in  abundance ;  a 
toy  rattle  and  drum,  with  the  addition  of  an  iron 
spoon  and  a  wooden  trencher,  supplied  them  with 
music ;  and  neither  Mandan,  Pawnee,  Crow, 
Sioux,  Blackfoot,  nor  Camanchee,  could  have 
reasonably  complained  of  the  want  of  either  noise 
or  confusion. 

Then,  again,  they  were  very  successful  in  bring- 
ing buffaloes,  without  which  the  dance,  excellent 
as  it  was,  would  have  been  but  an  unsatisfactory 


m    * 


% 


u  :  •■  V-^i,  . 


S,:r>c*  n 


m-^''- 


"«!■ 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


171 


lave 
Loise 


ing- 
Jlent 
tory 


■=% 


affair.  Black  Tom  had  been  prudently  shut  up 
in  the  tool-house,  and  Jowler  tied  up  to  a  tree 
hard  by,  so  that,  when  it  became  expedient  for 
buffaloes  to  appear,  the  house  of  Black  Tom  was 
opened, land  Jowler  was  set  at  liberty.  All  things 
considered,  the  affair  w^ent  off  re^narkably  well. 

"  We  are  come  to  hear  of  the  bear  dance,  and 
the  dog  dance,  and  the  beggars'  dance,  and  the 
green  corn  dance,"  said  Austin  to  the  hunter,  on 
the  following  day,  when  a  visit  was  paid  to  the 
cottage.  The  hunter,  with  his  accustomed  kind- 
ness to  the  young  people,  lost  no  time  in  entering 
on  his  narrative.  .  "  You  must  not  forget,"  said 
he,  "  that  many  of  the  dances  of  the  Indians  par- 
take of  a  religious  character,  for  in  them  reverence 
and  adoration  are  freely  offered.  The  Indians' 
worship  of  the  Great  Spirit,  as  I  have  already  told 
you,  is  mingled  with  much  of  ignorance  and  su«-^ 
perstition,  whether  in  dances  or  in  other  observ- . 
ances  ;  yet  do  they,  at  times,  leave  upon  the  mind^ 
of  a  spectator  a  deep  impression  of  their  sincerity, 
though  this  does  not  excuse  their  error.  I  have 
not  as  yet  described  their  music,  and  therefore  will 
do  it  now."  .? 

Austin,  Yes.    Now  for  the  music  of  the  In- 
dians, if  you  please,  sir. 

Hunter,  If  you  ever  go  among  them,  and  mingle 
in  their  dances,  you  must  not  expect  to  have  a 
band  of  music  such  as  you  have  in  our  cities. 
Whistles,  flutes,  rattles  and  drums  are  almost  all 
'their  musical  instruments.  You  would  be  sur- 
prised at  the  music  that  some  of  the  young  In- 
dians produce  with  the  mystery  whistle. 


'■«s;.0#*' 


'* 


172 


THE   INDIANS  OF 


!*/ 


p. 


^-* 


i'rH  ^ 


Austin,  Why  is  it  called  the  mystery  whistle  ? 

Hunter,  I  have  already  told  you  that  the  red 
man  calls  every  thing  mystery,  or  medicine,  that 
is  surprising ;  and  as  the  notes  of  this  whistle  are 
particularly  sweet,  it  may  be  called  a  mystery 
whistle  on  this  account.  There  is  another  whistle 
that  is  very  much  in  request  among  the  Iij^dians, 
and  that  is  the  war  whistle.  The  onset  and  the 
retreat  in  battle  are  sounded  on  this  instrument  by 
the  leading  chief,  who  never  goes  on  an  expedi- 
tion without  it.  It  is  made  of  bone,  and  some- 
times it  is  formed  of  the  leg  bone  of  a  large  bird. 
The  shrill,  scream-like  note,  which  is  the  signal 
for  rushing  on  an  enemy,  would  make  you  start. 

Brian.  What  sort  of  a  drum  do  they  use  ?  Is 
it  a  kettle-drum  ? 

Hunter,  No.  It.  is  merely  a  piece  of  raw  hide, 
^stretched  as  tight  as  it  can  be  pulled  over  a  hoop. 
JSome  of  their  drums  have  but  one  end,  or  surface, 
to  beat  upon,  while  others  have  two.  What  they 
would  do  in  their  dances  without  their  drums  I 
dor  not  know,  for  you  hear  them  continually. 
Their  rattles  are  of  different  kinds,  some  much 
larger  than  others ;  but  the  principle  on  which 
they  are  formed  is  the  same,  that  is,  of  enclosing 
stones  of  different  sizes  in  hard,  dry,  raw  hide. 

Austin,  Have  they  no  trumpets  and  cymbals, 
and  clarionets  and  violins  ? 

Hunter,  No,  nothing  of  the  kind.  They  have 
a  deer-skin  flute,  on  which  very  tolerable  music 
is  sometimes  made ;  but,  after  all,  it  must  be  ad- 
mitted that  Indians  are  much  better  buffalo  hunt- 
ers than  musicians. 


'^, 


-4 


*  *■ 


■p 


>md^. 


■■>**^»?     •T^r    ' 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


173 


luch 


ping 

)als, 

lave 
isic 
lad- 
int- 


Austin,  Ay ;  they  are  quite  at  home  in  hunting 
buffaloes. 

Hunter,  Yes ;  and  they  are  at  home,  too,  in 
dancing,  being  extremely  nimble  of  foot.  Some 
of  their  dances  are  so  hideous  that  you  would  be 
disgusted  with  them,  while  others  would  keep  you 
laughing  in  spite  of  yourselves. 

Brian.  You  must  please  to  tell  us  about  these 
dances. 

Hunter,  Dancing  is  a  vory  favourite  amuse- 
ment of  the  Indians ;  though  it  is,  for  the  most 
part,  of  a  character  so  different  from  that  of  dancing 
in  civilized  life,  that  few  people,  ignorant  of  its 
meaning  and  allusions,  would  like  it.  The  body 
is  so  continually  in  a  stooping  attitude,  and  the 
gestures  and  grimaces  appear  to  be  so  unmeaning, 
that  at  first  it  leaves  an  impression  that  they  are 
ridiculing  the  art  of  dancing,  rather  than  entering 
into  it  in  right  earnest.  There  is  such  creeping/ 
and  jumping  and  starting,  that  a  spectator  can 
make  but  little  of  it. 

Austin,  I  can  fancy  that  I  see  a  party  joining 
in  the  buffalo  dance  now,  with  their  masks  over 
their  faces.     Please  to  t5l  us  of  the  bear  dance. 

Hunter,  By  and  by.  I  will  describe  a  few 
.  other  dances  first.  The  beggars'  dance  is  under- 
taken to  prevail  on  such  of  the  spectators  as 
abound  in  comforts  to  give  alms  to  those  who  are 
more  scantily  provided  with  them.  It  is  danced 
by  the  young  men  who  stand  high  in  the  tribe. 
These  shake  their  rattles,  hold  up  their  pipes  and 
brandish  their  lances,  while  they  dance ;  chanting 
if V  in  an  odd  strain,  at  the  top  of  their  voices,  in 

15^ 


t 


»>T 


.r 


.jt.. 


#,**  ^ 


.'■W,  •    ^■:^\Vf«;\' 


J< 


in 


THE  INDIANS  OP 


praise  of  the  Great  Spirit,  and  imploring  him  to 
dispose  the  lookers  on  to  give  freely.  The  dancers 
are  all  naked,  with  the  exception  of  a  sort  of  kilt 
formed  of  quills  and  feathers;  and  a  medicine 
man  keeps  on  all  the  time  beating  furiously  on 
a  drum  with  a  rattle,  and  hallooing  out  as  loud^ 
as  he  can  raise  his  voice. 

Austin,  That  ought  to  be  called  the  begging 
dance,  and  not  tlje  beggars'  dance ;  for  the  dancers 
do  not  beg  for  themselves,  but  for  others. 

Hunter.  You  see  that  ^he  object  of  the  dance  is 
a  good  one  ;  for  many  a  skin,  or  pouch,  or  pipe, 
or  other  necessary  article,  is  given  by  the  specta- 
tors to  those  of  their  tribe  who  need  them.  It  is 
not  common  among  the  Indians  for  their  aged 
men  and  mystery  men  to  mingle  in  the  dance,  and 
yet  I  have  seen,  on  especial  occasions,  a  score  of 
them  jumping  and  capering  in  a  way  very  credita- 
ble to  their  agility.  The  Sioux  have  a  dance 
that  ought  to  be  called  the  doctors'  dance,  or  the 
dance  of  the  chiefs. 

Brian.  Why,  do  the  doctors  dance  in  it? 

Hunter.  Yes  ;  while  aimedicine  man  beats  his 
drum,  and  a  party  of  young  women  sing,  the 
chiefs  of  the  tribe  and  the  doctors  make  their 
appearance,  splendidly  attired  in  their  costliest 
head-dreiAs,* carrying  a  spear  in  one  hand  and  a 
rattle  in  the  other.  Every  movement  is  strictly 
regulated  by  the  beat  of  the  drum,  and  the  dance 
by  degrees  becomes  more  and  more  spirited,  until 
you  would  suppose  the  party  must  be  exhausted  ; 
but  men  so  much  in  the  open  air,  and  whose  limbs 
are  so  little  restrained  by  bandages  and  tight  cloth- 


* 


■t 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


175 


ing,  can  bear  a  great  deal  of  fatigue.     The  pipe 
dance  is  one  of  the  most  animated  amusements. 

Basil.  Oh  !  do  tell  us  about  the  pipe  dance. 

Hunter.  In  the  ground  in  the  centre  of  the  vil- 
lage a  fire  is  lighted,  and  a  party  assemble  round 
it ;  every  one  smoking  his  pipe,  as  he  sits  on  his 
buffalo  skin,  as  though  nothing  was  farther  from 
his  thoughts  than  dancing.  While  these  are 
whiffing  away  at  a  distance  from  the  fire,  a  mys- 
tery man,  who  sits  nearer  to  the  flame,  smokes  a 
longer  pipe,  grunting  at  the  same  time  a  kind  of 
tune.  Suddenly  is  heard  the  rub-a-dub  of  a  drum, 
or  the  beat  of  some  other  instrument  of  the  same 
kind ;  when  instantly  starts  to  his  feet  one  of  the 
smokers,  hopping  like  a  parched  pea,  spinning 
round  like  a  top,  and  starting  and  jumping,  at 
every  beat  of  the  drum,  in  a  very  violent  manner. 
In  this  way  he  goes  round  the  smokeris,  seemingly 
threatening  them  all,  and  at  last  pounces  upon 
one  of  them,  whom  he  compels  to  dance  in  the 
same  manner  as  himself.  The  new  dancer  acts 
his  part  like  the  former  one,  capering  and  jump- 
ing round  the  smokers,  and  compelling  another 
to  join  them.  Thus  the  dance  continues,  till  all  of  | 
them  are  occupied,  when  the  hopping,  the  jumping, 
the  frightful  postures  into  which  they  throw  them- 
selves, together  with  the  grunting,  growling, 
singing,  hooting  and  hallooing,  are  beyond  all 
belief.  There  are  few  dances  of  the  Indians 
more  full  of  wild  gestures  and  unrestrained  turbu- 
lence than  the  pipe  dance. 

Basil.  I  hope  you  have  a  good  many  more 
dances  to  tell  us  of. 


•* 


-Ti. 


% 


.:T««W?f»f 


176 


THE   INDIANS   OF 


•r-^ 


Hunter.  The  green  corn  dance  of  the  Minatarees 
must  be  described  to  you.  Among  Indian  tribes, 
green  corn  is  a  great  luxury,  and  the  time  when 
it  ripens  is  a  time  of  rejoicing.  Dances  and  songs 
of  thanksgiving  are  abundant;  and  the  people 
give  way  not  omy  to  feasting,  but  also  to  gluttony ; 
so  that  often,  by  abusing  the  abundance  in  their 
possession,  they  bring  upon  themselves  the  mise- 
ries of  want.  The  Indians  have  very  little  fore- 
thought. To  eitjoy  the  present,  and  to  trust  the 
future  to  the  Great  Spirit,  is  their  constant  practice. 

\  Austin,  How  long  does  the  green  corn  dance 
last  ? 

Hunter,  For  eight  or  ten  days,  during  which 
time  there  is  the  most  unbounded  prodigality. 
Among  many  of  the  tribes,  the  black  drink,  a 
very  powerful  medicine,  is  taken  two  or  three 
days  before  the  feast,  that  the  green  corn  may  be 
eaten  with  a  sharp  appetite  and  an  empty  stomach. 

Brian,  In  what  way  does  the  green  corn  dance 
begin  ? 

Hunter.  As  soon  as  the  corn  is  in  a  proper 
state — and  this  is  decided  by  the  mystery  men — 
runners  are  despatched  through  the  village,  that 
all  may  assemble  on  the  following  day  to  the  dance 
and  the  feast.  Sufficient  corn  for  the  required 
purpose  is  gathered  by  the  women,  who  have  the 
fields  under  their  care,  and  a  fire  is  made,  over 
which  a  kettle,  w^ilh  green  corn  in  it,  is  kept 
boiling ;  while  medicine  men,  whose  bodies  are 
strangely  painted,  or  bedaubed  with  clay  of  a 
white  colour,  dance  round  it  in  very  uncouth 
attitudes,  with  corn-stalks  in  their  hands. 


^*     -^k.. 


.«i!A.:. 


k 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


177 


Austin,  I  dare  say,  while  the  pot  is  boiling, 
they  are  all  longing  to  begin  the  feast. 

hunter.  The  first  kettle-full  is  not  for  them- 
selves, it  is  an  offering  to  the  Great  Spirit.  There 
are  many  customs  among  the  Indians  which  can- 
not but  bring  the  Jews  to  our  remembrance ;  and 
this  offering  of  the  first  green  com  does  so  very 
forcibly.  The  medicine  men  round  the  fire  shake 
their  rattles,  hold  up  their  corn-stalks,  and  sing 
loudly  a  song  of  thanksgiving,  till  the  com  is  suf- 
ficiently boiled ;  it  is  then  put  upon  the  fire  and 
consumed  to  a  cinder.  Before  this  offering  is 
made,  none  of  the  Indians  would  dare  to  taste  of 
the  luxurious  fare  ;  but,  afterwards,  their  appetite 
is  unrestrained. 

Austin,  Then  they  begin  to  boil  more  corn,  I 
suppose. 

Hunter,  A  fresh  fire  is  made,  a  fresh  kettle  of 
com  is  prepared,  and  the  dance  goes  on;  the 
medicine  men  keeping  close  to  the  fire,  and  the 
others  capering  and  shouting  in  a  larger  circle, 
their  energy  increasmg  as  the  feast  approaches 
nearer  and  nearer.  .The  chiefs  and  medicine  men 
then  sit  down  to  the  feast,  followed  by  the  whole 
tribe,  keeping  up  their  festivity  day  after  day,  till 
the  corn-field  has  little  more  grain  remaining  in  it 
than  what  is  necessary  for  seed.  You  have  heard 
the  saying,  "  Wilful  waste  brings  woful  want." 
The  truth  of  this  saying  is  often  set  forth,  as  well 
in  civilized  life  as  among  the  Indians. 

Basil.  I  wonder  what  dance  will  come  next. 

Hunter,  I  need  not  describe  many  others.  If 
I  run  rapidly  through  two  or  three,  and  dwell  a. 


^-: 


0 


^ 


M 


.  -T 


•#j 


178 


THE   INDIANS  OF 


..sir- 


.    I 


■■;* 


0" 


little  on  the  bear  dance  and  the  war  dance,  you 
■will  then  have  heard  quite  enough  about  dances. 
The  scalp  dance  is  in  use  among  the  Sioux  or 
Dahcotas.  It  is  rather  a  fearful  exhibition ;  for 
•women,  in  the  centre  of  a  circle,  hold  up  and 
wave  about  the  scalps  which  have  been  torn  from 
the  slaughtered  foes  of  the  tribe,  while  the  war- 
riors draw  around  them  in  the  most  furious  atti- 
tudes, brandishing  their  war-clubs,  uttering  the 
most  hideous  howls  and  screams.  The  Indians 
fcave  many  good  qualities,  but  cruelty  seems  to 
mingle  with  their  very  nature.  Every  thing  is 
done  among  them  that  can  be  done,  to  keep  alive 
the  desire  to  shed  blood.  The  noblest  act  a  red 
man  can  perform,  and  that  which  he  thinks  the 
most  useful  to  his  tribe  and  the  most  acceptable 
to  the  Great  Spirit,  is  to  destroy  an  enemy,  and  to 
bear  away  his  scalp  as  a  trophy  of  his  valour.  If 
it  were  only  for  this  one  trait  in  the  Indian  cha- 
racter, even  this  would  be  sufficient  to  convince 
every  humane  person,  and  especially  every  Chris- 
tian, of  the  duty  and  great  advantage  of  spreading 
among  them  the  merciful  prirjciples  of  Christian- 
ity. A  holy  influence  is  necessary  to  teach  the 
untutored  red  man  to  forgive  his  enemies,  to  sub- 
due his  anger,  to  abate  his  pride,  and  to  stay  his 
hand  in  shedding  human  blood.  The  new  com- 
mandment must  be  put  in  his  heart :  "  That  ye 
love  o»e  another."  The  Mandan  boys  used  to 
join  in  a  sham  scalp  dance,  in  which  they  con- 
ducted themselves  just  like  warriors  returning  from 
a  victorious  enterprise  against  taeir  enemies. 
Basil.  They  are  all  sadly  fond  of  fighting. 


*««: 


i*,-- 


*:■• 


"Tf- 


"^■ 


,  * 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


179 


■m 


Hunter.  In  the  brave  dance,  of  the  Ojibbeways, 
there  is  plenty  of  swaggering :  the  dancers  seem 
as  if  they  knew  not  how  to  be  proud  enough  of 
their  warlike  exploits.  The  eagle  dance,  among 
the  Choctaws,  is  an  elegant  amusement ;  and  the 
snow-shoe  dance,  of  the  Ojibbeways,  is  a  very 
amusing  one. 

Brian,  Please  to  tell  us  about  them  both. 

Hunter,  I  must  not  stay  to  describe  them  par^ 
ticularly :  it  will  be  enough  to  say,  that,  in  the 
one,  the  dancers  are  painted  white,  and  that  they^ 
move  about  waving  in  their  hands  the  tail  of  the 
eagle ;  in  the  other — which  is  perfonned  on  the 
first  fall  of  sii^i  in  honour  of  the  Great  Spirit — 
the  dancers  "^^Wlg^w-shoes,  which,  projecting 
far  before  and  benfl|||^ir  feet,  give  them  in  the 
dance  a  most  strange  aM  ifoushable  appearance. 

Brian,  I  should  very  rMlcn  like  to  see  that 
dance ;  there  is  nothing  cruel  in  it  at  all.      t^      > 

Basil,  And  I  should  like  to  see  the  eagle  dance, 
for  there  is  no  cruelty  in  that  either. 

Hunter,  The  straw  dance  is  a  Sioux  dance  of 
a  very  curious  description.  Loose  straws  are  tied 
to  the  bodies  of  naked  children ;  these  straws  are 
then  set  on  fire,  and  the  children  are  required  to 
dance,  without  uttering  any  expression  of  pain. 
This  practice  is  intended  to  make  them  hardy, 
that  they  may  become  the  better  warriors. 

Basil,  That  is  one  of  the  strangest  dances  of  all. 

Hunter,  I  will  now  say  a  little  about  the  bear 
dance,  and  the  war  dance.  The  bear  dance  is 
performed  by  the  Sioux  before  they  set  off  on  a 
bear-hunt.     If  the  tear  dance  w^ere  left  unper-^ 


#: 


•% 


'm- 


180 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


formed,  they  would  hardly  hope  for  success.  The 
Bear  spirit,  if  this  honour  were  not  paid  to  him, 
would  be  offended,  and  would  give  them  no  suc- 
cess in  the  chase. 

*  Austin.  What!  do  the  Sioux  think  there  is  a 
jBear  spirit  ? 

Hunter,  Yes.  The  number  of  spirits  of  one 
Innd  or  another,  believed  in  by  the  Indians,  is  very 
great.  In  the  bear  dance,  the  principal  performer 
has  a  bear-skin  over  him,  the  head  of  it  hanging 


over  his  head,  and  the  pa^ws  over  his  hands.  W 
s     Others  have  masks  of  bears*^:faces ;  and  all  of 

them,  throughout  the  dance,  imitate  the  actions  of    . 
^     a  bear.     They  stoop   down,  they  dangle  theii     * 
**^'|iands,  and  make  frightful  noises,  beside  singing 

to  the  Bear  spirit.    If  you  caofi-  imagine  twenty 


^•??ws 


'f^Sr'! 


*• 


-*■  # 


WW 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


181 


The 
»  him, 
)  suc- 

e  is  a 

f  one 
svery 
ormer 
nging 


.VA 


mds.  W 
\i  of 
^sof 
leii  *  • 


bears  dancing  to  the  music  of  the  rattle,  'whistle, 
and  drum,  making  odd  gambols,  and  yelling  out 
the  most  frightful  noises,  you  will  have  some  no- 
tion of  the  bear  dance. 

Brian.  Now  for  the  war  dance :  that  is  come 
at  last. 

Hunter,  It  is  hardly  possible  to  conceive  a ' 
more  exciting  spectacle  than  that  of  the  war  dance 
among  the  Sioux.  It  exhibits  Indian  manners 
on  the  approach  of  war.  As,  among  civilized 
people,  soldiers  are  raised  either  by  recruiting  dr 
other  means ;  so,  among  the  Indians,  something 
like  recruiting  prevails.  The  red  pipe  is  sent 
through  the  tribe,  and  every  one  who  draws  a 
whiff  up  the  stem  thereby  declares  he  is  willing 
to  join  the  war  party.  The  warriors  then  assemble 
together,  painted  with  vermilion  and  other  colours, 
and  dressed  in  their  war  clothes,'  with  their 
weapons  and  their  war-eagle  head-dresses. 
^  Austin,  What  a  sight  that  must  be !  ^ 

h  Hunter,  When  the  mystery  man  has  stuck  up 
a  red  post  in  the  ground,  and  begun  to  beat  his 
drum,  the  warriors  advance,  one  after^'another, 
brandishing  their  war-clubs,  and  striking  the  red 
post  a  violent  blow,  while  the -mystery •toan'^sings 
their  death-song.  When  the  warriors  have  struck 
the  post,  they  blacken  their  faces,  and  all  set  to  danc- 
ing around  it.  The  shrill  war-whoop  is  screamed  # 
aloud,  and  frantic  gestures  and  frightful  yells  show, 
but  too  plainly,  that  there  will  be  very  little  mercy 
extended  to  tne  enemy  that  falls  into  their  hands.  -« ' 

Brian,    That   war    dance   would    make    me       ^ 
tremble.  ,^  ^ 


-«' 


<k] 


<-*r 


16 


« ,■-#- 


H 


»«:' 


182 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


Hunter.  The  Mandan  boys  used  to  assemble  at 
the  back  of  their  village,  every  morning,  as  soon 
as  the  sun  was  in  the  skies,  to  practise  sham 
fighting.  Under  the  guidance  and  direction  of 
their  ablest  and  most  courageous  braves  and  war- 
riors, they  were  instructed  in  all  the  mysteries  of 
war.  The  preparations,  the  ambush,  the  surprise, 
the  combat  and  the  retreat,  were  made  familiar 
to  them.  Thus  were  they  bred  up  from  their 
youth  to  delight  in  warfare,  and  to  long  for  oppor- 
tunities of  using  their  tomahawks  and  scalping- 
•jfnives  against  their  foes. 
it,|K|nien  you  next  come  to  see  me,  I  will  give 

J  roil  ah  account  of  the  cruel  customs  of  the  mystery 
odge  of  the  Mandans  ;  with  the  hope  that  it  will 
increase  your  abhorrence  of  cruelty  and  blood- 
shed, render  you  more  than  ever  thankful  for  the 
blessings  of  peace,  and  more  anxious  to  extend 
them  all  over  the  earth.  The  hardest  of  all  les^ 
isons  now,  to  a  red  man,  is,  as  I  have  before  inti- 
mated, to  forgive  his  enemies ;  but  when,  through 
Divine  mercy,  his  knowledge  is  extended,  and 
his  heart  opened  to  receive  the  truths  of  the  gospel, 
he  will  be  enabled  to  understand,  to  love,  and  to 
practise  the  injunction  of  the  Saviour,  "Love 
your  enemies,  bless  them  that  curse  you,  do  good 
to  them  that  hate  you,  and  pray  for  them  which 


*^      despitefuUy  use  you,  and  persecute  you, 


» 


,'  '-■■ 


"^»- 


t,       •■>';•':    •*' 


• 


m- 


<':-X: 


,  1'^ 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


183 


Interior  of  a  Mystery  Lodg*. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


It  was  well  for  Austin  Edwards  and  his  brothers, 
that  their  acquaintance  with  their  friend  the 
hunter  commenced  during  one  of  their  holidays, 
so  that  they  were  enabled  to  pay  him  a  visit  more 
frequently  than  they  otherwise  could  have  done. 
The  life  led  by  the  hunter  would  have  been  far 
too  solitary  for  most. people;  but  his  long  wan- 
derings in  the  extended  p.'airies,  and  his  long 
sojournings  in  places  remote  from  society,  had 
rendered  the  quiet  tranquillity  of  country  scenes 
pleasant  to  him :  yet,  still,  as  variety  has  its 
charms,  it  afforded  him  a  pleasant  change,  when- 
ever the  three  brothers  visited  him. 

In  his  younger  df>ys,  he  had  entered  on  the- life 
of  a  hunter  and  trapper  with  much  ardour.    Tq 


t 


-ri   'VflST- 


A 


184 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


pursue  the  buffalo  (or,  more  properly  speaking, 
the  bison)  of  the  prairie,  the  deer,  and  other 
animals,  and  to  mingle  with  the  different  tribes  of 
Indians,  was  his  delight.  With  wild  animals  and 
wild  men  he  became  familiar,  and  even  the  very 
dangers  that  beset  his  path  gave  an  interest  to  his 
pursuits :  bu<.  his  youth  was  gone,  his  manhood 
was  declining,  and  the  world  that  he  once  looked 
upon  as  an  abiding  dwelling-place,  he  now  re- 
garded as  the  pathway  to  a  better  home. 

Time  was,  when  to  urge  the  arrow  or  the  spear 
into  the  heart  of  the  flying  prey  for  mere  diversion, 
and  to  join  in  the  wild  war-whoop  of  contending 
tribes,  was  congenial  to  his  spirit ;  but  his  mind 
had  been  sobered,  so  that  now  to  practise  for- 
bearance and  kindness  was  far  more  pleasant  than 
to  indulge  in  cruelty  and  revenge.  He  looked  on 
mankind  as  one  great  family,  which  ought  to 
dwell  in  brotherly  love;  and  he  regarded  the 
animal  creation  as  given  by  a  heavenly  Hand, 
for  the  use,  and  not  the  abuse,  of  man. 

In  relating  the  scenes  in  which  he  had  mingled 
in  earlier  years,  he  was  aware  that  he  could  not 
avoid  calling  up,  in  some  measure,  in  the  youth- 
ful hearts  of  his  auditors,  the  natural  desire  to  see 
what  was  new  and  strange  and  wonderful,  with- 
out reflecting  a  moment  on  the  good  or  the  evil 
of  the  thing  set  before  them :  but  he  endeavoured 
to  blend  with  his  descriptions  such  remarks  as 
would  lead  them  to  love  what  was  right  and  to 
hate  what  was  wrong.  Regarding  the  Indian 
tribes  as  an  injured  people,  he  sought  to  set  before 
his  young  friends  the  wrongs  and  oppressions 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


185 


re- 


practised  on  the  red  man ;  that  they  might  sym- 
pathize with  his  trials,  and  feel  interested  for  his 
"welfare.  •  -    '    0:^^^-'^ 

The  few  words  that  had  dropped  from  his  lips, 
about  the  ordeal  through  which  the  Indians  pass 
before  they  are  allowed  to  join  war-parties,  had 
awakened  Austin's  curiosity.  Nor*  was  it  long 
before,  seated  with  his  brothers  in  the  cottage,  he 
was  listening  to  the  whole  account.  "  Please  to 
begin  at  the  very  beginning,"  said  he,  "  and  I 
shall  not  lose  a  single  word." 

Hunter.  The  Sioux,  the  Crows,  the  Sacs,  the 
Ojibbeways,  the  Camanchees,  and  the  Chippe- 
was,  all  exhibit  astonishing  proofs  of  patience  and 
endurance  under  pain ;  but  in  none  of  the  tribes 
has  ever  such  torture  been  inflicted,  or  such 
courage  witnessed,  in  enduring  torment,  as  among 
the  Mandans. 

Bnan.     Now  we  shall  hear. 

Hunter.  The  Mandans,  who,  as  I  have  already 
told  you,  lived,  w'hen  I  was  a  hunter,  on  the 
Upper  Missouri,  held  a  mystery  lodge  every  year ; 
and  this  was  indeed  a  very  solemn  gathering  of 
the  tribe.  I  was  never  present  in  the  lodge  on 
this  occasion,  but  will  give  you  the  description 
of  an  eye-witness. 

Basil.  Why  did  they  get  together  ?  What  did 
they  do  ? 

Hunter.  You  shall  hear.  The  mystery  lodge, 
or  it  may  be  called  the  religious  meeting,  was 
held,  first,  to  appease  the  wrath  and  secure  the 
protection  of  the  good  and  the  evil  spirits ;  se- 
condly, to  celebrate  the  great  flood,  which  they 

16* 


18^' 


THE  INDIAirS  OF 


believed  took  place  a  long  time  ago ;  thirdly,  to 
perform  the  buffalo  dance,  to  bring  bulTaloes ;  and, 
fourthly,  to  try  the  strength,  courage  and  endu- 
rance of  their  young  men,  that  they  might  know 
who  were  the  most  worthy  among  them,  and  the 
most  to  be  relied  on  in  war-parties. 

Austin.  How  came  the  Mandans  to  know  any 
thing  about  the  flood,  if  they  have  no  Bibles  ? 

Hunter.  That  I  cannot  tell.  Certain  it  is,  that 
they  had  a  large,  high  tub,  called  the  Great  Canoe, 
in  the  centre  of  their  village,  set  up  in  comme- 
moration of  the  flood ;  and  that  they  held  the 
mystery  lodge  when  the  willow  leaves  were  in 
their  prime  under  the  river  bank,  because,  they 
said,  a  bird  had  brought  a  willow  bough  in  full 
leaf  to  the  Great  Canoe  in  the  flood. 

Austin,  Why,  it  is  just  as  if  they  had  read  the 
Bible. 

Hunter.  The  fact  of  the  deluge  (however  they 
came  by  it)  had  undoubtedly  been  handed  down 
among  them  by  tradition  for  many  generations: 
but  I  must  go  on  with  my  account  of  the  Mandan 
gathering.  The  mystery  lodge  was  opened  by  a 
strange-looking  man,  whom  no  one  seemed  to 
know,  and  who  came  from  the  prairie.  This  odd 
man  called  for  some  edge-tool  at  every  wigwam 
in  the  village ;  and  all  these  tools,  at  the  end  of 
the  ceremonies,  were  cast  into  the  river  from  a 
high  bank ;  as  an  offering,  I  suppose,  to  the  Water 
spirit.  After  opening  the  mystery  lodge,  and  ap- 
pointing a  medicine  man  to  preside,  he  once  more 
disappeared  on  the  prairie. 

Brian,     What  an  odd  thing !  -i 


•*l 


".-,'«•>  ,?W'tt^.---i'  ■ 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


187 


of 
i  a 
ter 

P- 
■)re 


Hunter.  Twenty  or  thirty  young  men  were 
in  the  lodge,  candidates  for  reputation  among  the 
tribe,  who  had  presented  themselves  to  undergo 
the  prescribed  tortures.  As  they  reclined  in  the 
lodge,  every  one  had  hung  up  over  his  head,  his 
shield,  his  bow  and  quiver,  and  his  medicine  bag. 
The  young  men  were  pa-nted  different  colours. 
The  old  mystery  man  appointed  to  superintend 
the  ceremonies  sat  by  a  fire  in  the  middle  of  the 
lodge,  smoking  leisurely  with  his  medicine  pipe, 
in  honour  of  the  Great  Spirit ;  and  there  he  sat 
for  four  days,  and  as  many  nights,  during  which 
the  young  men  neither  tasted  food  nor  drink,  nor 
were  they  allowed  to  close  their  eyes. 

Basil.    It  was  enough  to  kill  them  all. 

Hunter.  On  the  floor  of  the  lodge  were  buffalo 
and  human  skulls,  and  sacks  filled  with  water, 
shaped  like  tortoises,  with  sticks  by  them.  Dur- 
ing each  of  the  four  days,  the  buffalo  dance  was 
performed  over  and  over  again,  by  Indians,  painted, 
and  wearing  over  them  whole  buffalo  skins,  with 
tails  and  hoofs  and  horns ;  while  in  their  hands 
they  carried  rattles,  and  long,  thin,  white  wands, 
aiid  bore  on  their  backs  Sundles  of  green  boughs 
of  the  willow.  Some  of  the  dancers  were  painted 
red,  to  represent  the  day  ;  and  others  black,  with 
stars,  to  resemble  the  night.  During  these  dances, 
which  took  place  round  the  Great  Canoe,  the  tops 
of  the  WMgwams  were  crowded  with  people. 

Aiistin.  I  want  to  hear  about  the  young  In- 
dians in  the  lodge,  and  that  old  fellow,  the 
mystery  man. 

Hunter.     The  superstitious  and  cruel  practices 


:^% 


^^i' 
I  j,*^.i 


t 


188 


THE   INDIANS   OF 


of  the  mystery  lodge  are  too  fearful  to  dwell  up- 
on. I  shall  only  just  glance  at  them,  that  you 
may  know,  in  some  degree,  the  kind  of  trials  the 
young  Indians  have  to  endure.  While  the  dances 
were  going  on,  mystery  men,  inside  the  lodge, 
were  beating  on  the  water  sacks  with  sticks,  and 
animating  the  young  men  to  act  courageously, 
telling  them  that  the  Great  Spirit  was  sure  to  sup- 
port them.  Splints,  or  wooden  skewers,  were 
then  run  through  the  flesh  on  the  back  and  breasts 
of  the  young  warriors,  and  they  were  hoisted  up, 
with  cords  fastened  to  the  splints,  towards  the  top 
of  the  lodge.  Not  a  muscle  of  their  features  ex- 
pressed fear  or  pain. 

Basil.     iShocking!  shocking! 

Bnan.     That  must  be  horrible ! 

Hunter.  After  this,  other  splints  were  run 
through  their  arms,  thighs  and  legs ;  and  on 
these  were  hung  their  shields,  arms  and  medicine 
bags.  In  this  situation  thev  were  taunted,  and 
turned  round  with  poles  till  they  fainted  ;  and 
when,  on  being  let  down  again,  they  recovered, 
those  who  had  superior  hardihood  would  crawl 
to  the  buffalo  skull  in  the  centre  of  the  lodge,  and 
lay  upon  it  the  little  finger  of  their  left  hand  to 
be  chopped  off;  and  even  the  loss  of  a  second  or 
third  finger  is  counted  evidence  of  superior  bold- 
ness and  devotion.  After  this,  they  were  hurried 
along  between  strong  and  fleet  runners :  this  was 
called  "the  last  race,"  round  and  round  the  Great 
Canoe,  till  the  weight  of  their  arms  having  pulled 
the  splints  from  their  bodies,  they  once  more 
fainted,  and  in  this  state,  apparently  dead,  they 


Ir* 


I 


f 


;-i    -f- 


\^  >^^ 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


189 


were  left  to  themselves,  to  live  or  die,  as  the 
Great  Spirit  might  determine.       -; 

Austin,  I  should  think  that  hardly  any  of  them 
would  ever  come  to  life  again.  :: 

Hunter.  Nor  would  they,  under  common  cir- 
cumstances; but,  when  we  consider  that  these 
young  men  had  fasted  for  four  days,  and  lost  much 
blood  in  their  tortures,  there  was  not  much  danger 
of  inflammation  from  their  wounds,  and  their 
naturally  strong  constitutions  enabled  them  to  re- 
cover. All  these  tortures  were  willingly  under- 
taken ;  nor  would  any  one  of  those  who  endured 
them,  on  any  account  whatever,  have  evaded 
them.  To  propitiate  the  Great  Spirit,  and  to 
stand  well  in  the  estimation  of  his  own  tribe,  are 
the  two  highest  objects  in  the  mind  of  an  Lidian. 


The  day  after  that  on  which  Austin  and  his 
brothers  heard  from  the  hunter  the  account  of  the 
mystery  lodge,  and  the  sufferings  of  the  young 
Mandans  before  they  were  thought  equal  to  engage 
in  a  war-party,  two  or  three  litde  accidents  oc- 
curred. In  the  first  place,  Austin,  in  making  a 
new  bow,  cut  a  deep  gash  in  his  finger :  and,  in 
the  next,  Brian  and  Basil,  in  scrambling  among 
the  hedges  in  quest  of  straight  twigs  for  arrows, 
met  with  their  mishaps ;  for  Brian  got  a  thorn  ia 
his  thumb,  while  Basil  had  a  roll  down  the  bank 
into  a  dry  ditch. 

It  is  always  a  good  sign  in  young  people,  when 
they  put  into  practice  any  real  or  supposed  good 
lity  of  which  they  hear  or  read.  The  patience 


"?.''¥«■ 


190 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


'»■ 


V 


k 


A  War- Party, 


and  endurance  of  the  young  Mandans  had  called 
forth  high  commendations  from  Austin,  and  it  was 
evident,  in  the  affair  of  the  cut  finger,  that  he 
made  a  struggle,  and  a  successful  one  too,  in  con- 
trolling his  feelings.  With  an  air  of  resolution, 
he  wrapped  the  end  of  his  pocket  handkerchief 
tightly  round  the  w^o^^nd,  and  passed  off  the  oc- 
currence as  a  matter  of  no  moment.  Not  a  word 
escaped  little  Basil  when  he  rolled  into  the  ditch  ; 
nor  did  Brian  utter  a  single  "  oh  !^^  when  the 
thorn  was  extracted  from  his  thumb.  ' 

"  You  may  depend  upon  it,"  said  Austin,  after 
some  conversation  with  Brian  £nd  Basil,  on  the 
subject  of  the  young  Mandans,  '*  that  the  next 
time  we  see  'he  hunter,  we  shall  hear  something 
about  the  way  in  which  red  men  go  to  war.  The 
sham  fight,  and  the  preparation  of  the  young  war- 
riors, will  be  followed  by  some  account  of  their 


■t 


mg 
'he 
lar- 
[eir 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


191 


battles."  In  this  supposition  he  was  quite  cor- 
rect ;  for,  when  they  next  visited  the  cottage,  the 
hunter  proposed  to  speak  a  little  about  councils 
and  encampments  and  alarms  and  surprises  and 
attacks.  The  conversation  was  carried  on  in  the 
following  manner. 

Austin.  How  do  the  Indians  poison  their  ar- 
rows ?  -f 

Hunter.  By  dipping  the  point  of  the  arrow- 
head into  the  poison  prepared.  The  head  of  the 
arrow,  as  I  told  you,  is  put  on  very  slightly,  so 
that  it  remains  in  the  wound  when  the  arrow  is 
wi^l^awn.  - 

Brian.^  Where  do  they  get  their  poison  ?  "What 
is  it  made  of? 

Hutiter^ 
the  man? 

ent  tribes.  But,  usually,  it  is,  I  believe,  com- 
posed of  deadly  vegetable  substances,  slowly 
boiled  together,  sometimes  mingled  with  the  mor- 
tal poison  of  snakes  and  ants.  This  is  prepared 
with  great  care.  Its  strength  is  usually  tried  on 
a  lizard,  or  some  other  cold-blooded,  slow-dying 
animal.  It  is  rapid  in  its  effects ;  for,  if  a  fowl 
be  wounded  with  a  poisoned  weapon,  it  dies  in  a 
few  minutes ;  a  cat  dies  in  five  minutes  ;  a  bison, 
in  five  or  six  ;  and  a  horse,  in  ten.  Jaguars  and 
deer  live  but  a  short  time  .after  they  are  thus 
wounded.  If,  then,  horses  and  bisons  are  so  soon 
destroyed  by  the  poison,  no  wonder  that  men 
should  be  unable  to  endure  its  fatal  effects. 

Before  war  is  determined  on  among  the  Indi?ins, 
a  council  is  held  with  great  solemnity.     Tfe 


||r^|M|2p  doubt  there  is  some  difference  in 
il^RT preparing  poison  among  the  differ- 


.■s^4m 


■%   '  WW-,' 


■*'' 


Wk- 


^ 


;  192 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


r  ^ 

I 


It 


chiefs,  and  brayes,  and  medicine  men  are  assem- 
bled. Then  the  enlisting  takes  place,  which  I 
have  already  described  ;  the  war  dance  is  engaged 
in,  and  weapons  are  examined  and  repaired.  The 
^  chief,  arrayed  in  full  dress,  leads  on  his  band. 
They  march  with  silence  and  rapidity,  and  encamp 
"with  great  caution,  appointing  sentinels  in  every 
necessary  direction.  Thus,  lurking,  skulking 
and  marching,  they  reach  the  place  of  their  des- 
tination. Another  war  council  is  held,  to  decide 
on  the  mode  of  attack ;  and  then,  with  rifles,  war- 
' .  clubs,  scalping-knives  and  bows  and  poisoned 
;  arrows,  they  fall  upon  their  unsuspecting  fo^JHy, 

Brian.  It  is  very  sad  to  fight  with  suo^  %^a- 
pons  as  poisoned  arrows.  "^        ^ 

Hunter.  It  is  sad  to  fight  with^^y  I^d  of 
weapons;  but,  when  once  anger  en^HMil  heart, 
and  the  desire  to  shed  blood  is  called  Torth,  no 
mode  is  thought  too  cruel  that  will  assist  in  obtain- 
ing a  victory.  The  continual  warfare  that  is 
carried  on  between  Indian  tribes  must  be  afflict- 
ive to  every  humane  and  Christian  spirit.  None 
but  the  God  of  peace  can  destroy  the  love  of  war 
in  the  hearts  of  either  red  or  while  men. 

Indians  fight  in  a  way  very  different  from  civi- 
lized people ;  for  they  depend  more  on  cunning, 
stratagem  and  surprise,  than  on  skill  and  courage. 
Almost  all  their  attacks  are  made  under  cover  of 
night,  or  when  least  expected.  A  war-party  .will 
frequently  go  a  great  distance,  to  fall  upon  a  vil- 
lage or  an  encampment  on  a  quarter  most  acces- 
sible. To  effect  their  object,  they  will  hide  for 
any  length  of  time  in  the  forest,  sleep  in  the  long 

..         'i      ,  :        -. 


■•«,,■ 


% 


assem- 
hich  I 
1  gaged 
.    The 

band. 
>ncarop 
I  every 
[ulking 
3ir  des- 

decide 
?s,  war- 
oisoned 

tlnd  of 
B  heart, 
)rth,  no 
obtain- 
that  is 

afflict- 
None 

of  war 

civi- 

[nning, 

^urage. 

rer  of 

|ty,will 

a  vil- 

lacces- 

ide  for 

long 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


193 


grass,  lurk  in  the  ravine,  and  skulk  at  nightfall 
around  the  place  to  be  attacked. 

Austin.  Did  you  ever  go  out  with  the  Indians 
to  fight  ? 

Hunter,  Yes.  For  some  time  I  was  tre^tll 
very  hospitably  among  the  Crows,  near  the  Ro^)qf' 
Mountains  ;  and  as  they  had  determined  to  go  on 
one  of  their  war-parties,  which  I  could  ^jUpre- 
vent,  I  resolved  to  go  along  with  them,  W^Cch 
their  way  of  proceeding. 

Austin,     Do  tell  us  all  about  it. 

Hmier.  It  was  a  thoughtless  and  foolish  affair, 
when  Jli^is  young  and  rash ;  but  I  wished  to  be 
a  spectator  of  all  their  customs.  It  was,  as  I  said, 
one  of  those  foolish  undertakings  into  which  the 
ardour  of  my  disposition  led  me,  and  for  which  I 
was  very  near  paying  the  price  of  ray  life.  A 
council  was  held,  wherein  it  was  decided  to  send 
a  strong  war-party  on  foot  to  surprise  a  Blackfoot 
village.  Every  stratagem  had  been  used  to  lull 
the  enemy  into  security. 

Brian,     Ay ;  that  is  just  like  the  Indians. 

Hunter.  The  red  pipe  was  sent  through  the 
tribo,  for  the  warriors  to  smoke  with  it,  much  after 
tlu:  manner  of  the  Sioux ;  the  red  post  was  struck, 
and  the  braves  and  attendants  painted  their  faces. 
When  the  plan  of  attack  was  agreed  on,  every 
warrior  looked  to  his  weapons ;  neither  bow  nor 
arrow,  war-club  nor  scalping-knife,  was  left  un- 
examined. There  was  an  earnestness  in  their  pre- 
paration, as  though  they  were  all  animated  with 
one  spirit.  ^^   "^^.'r'W 

It  was  some  time  after  sundown,  that  we  left 


tiff 


194 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


* , 


the  village  at  a  quick  pace.  Runners  were  sent 
out  in  all  directions,  to  give  notice  of  an  enemy. 
We  hastened  along  a  deep  valley,  rounded  the 
bai^e  of  a  bluff,  and  entered  the  skirt  of  a  forest, 
'fbllowing  each  other  in  files  beneath  the  shadowy 
branches.  We  then  passed  through  some  deep 
grass,  and  stole  silently  along  several  defiles  and 
ravines.  The  nearer  we  drew  to  the  Blackfoot 
village,  the  more  silently  and  stealthily  we  pro- 
ceeded. Like  the  panther,  creeping  with  noise- 
less feet  on  his  prey,  we  stole  along  the  intricate 
path' .ays  of  the  prairie  bottoms,  the  forest,  the 
skirt  of  the  river  and  the  hills  and  bluffs.  At  last 
we  made  a  halt,  just  as  the  moon  emerged  from 
behind  a  cloud. 

Austin.  Then  there  w?.s  terri ble  work,  I  dare  say. 

Hunter.  It  was  past  midnight,  and  the  Black- 
foot  village  was  wTapped  in  slumber.  The  Crow 
warriors  dispersed  themselves  to  aitack  the  village 
at  the  samo  instant  from  different  quarters.  The 
leader  had  on  his  full  dress,  his  medicine  bag,  and 
his  head-dress  of  war-eagle  plumes.  All  was 
hushed  in  silence,  nearly  equal  to  that  of  the 
grave  ;  when  suddenly  tne  shrill  war- whistle  of 
the  Crow  chief  rung  through  the  Blackfoot  lodgesj 
and  the  wild  war-whoop  burst  at  once  from  a 
hundred  throats.  The  chief  was  in  the  thickest 
of  the  fight.  There  was  no  pity  for  youth  or  age ; 
the  war-club  spared  not,  and  the  tomahawk  was 
merciless.  Yelling  like  fiends,  the  Qxovi  war- 
riors fled  from  hut  to  hut,  from  victim  to  victim. 
Neither  women  nor  children  were  spared.     .  f    ^^p 

Brian.  Dreadful!  dreadful!  /:  ■ 


f. 


# 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


195 


re  sent 
nemy. 
ed  the 
forest, 
adowy 
e  deep 
es  and 
ickfoot 
e  pro- 
noise- 
itricate 
jst,  the 
At  last 
id  from 

are  say. 

Black- 

j  Crow 

village 

The 

5,  and 

1  was 

of  the 

stle  of 

odges^ 

rom  a 

lickest 

•r  age ; 

k  was 

war- 

trictinu 


Hunter.  Though  taken  thus  by  surprise,  the 
Blackfoot  hiaves,  in  a  little  time,  began  to  collect 
together,  clutching  their  weapons  firmly,  and  rush- 
ing on  their  enemies,  determined  to  avenge  their 
slaughtered  friends.  The  panic  into  which  they 
had  been  thrown  subsided,  and,  like  men  accus 
tomed  to  danger,  they  stood  not  only  in  self- 
defence,  but  attacked  their  foes  with  fury. 

Austin.  I  wonder  that  every  one  in  the  Black- 
foot  village  was  not  killed ! 

Hunter.  In  civilized  life,  this  would  very  likely 
have  been  the  case ;  but  in  a  savage  state,  men 
from  their  childhood  are  trained  up  to  peril.  They 
may  lie  down  to  slumber  on  their  couches  of  skins, 
but  their  weapons  are  near  at  hand  ;  and  though 
it  be  the  midnight  hour  when  an  attack  is  made 
on  them,  and  though,  awakened  by  the  confusion, 
they  hear  nothing  but  the  war-cry  of  their  enemy, 
they  spring  to  their  feet,  seize  their  arms,  and  rush 
on  to  meet  their  foes.  It  was  thus  with  the  Black- 
foot  braves.  Hand  to  hand,  and  foot  to  foot,  they 
met  their  assailants ;  brave  was  opposed  to  brave  ; 
and  the  horrid  clash  of  the  war-club  and  the  mur- 
derous death-grapple  succeeded  each  other.  Even 
if  I  could  describe  the  horrors  of  such  a  scene,  it 
would  not  be  right  to  do  so.  As  I  was  gazing  on 
the  conflict,  I  suddenly  received  a  blow  that  struck 
me  bleeding  to  the  ground.  You  may  see  the  scar 
on  my  temple  still.  The  confusion  was  at  its 
height,  or  else  my  scalp  would  have  been  taken. 

Brian.  How  did  you  get  away  ? 

Hunter.  Stunned  as  I  was,  I  recovered  my 
senses  before  a  retreat  took  place,  and  was  just 


'<* 


-'»■>( 


*:• 


..a;'     -■i^SJi 


'if^.  - 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


V  /<r  id- 


r^ 


1.0 


I.I 


|50     l"^" 


2.5 
2.2 

1.8 


L25      U   III  1.6 

« 6"     

► 

V] 


<^ 


/] 


/. 


# 


c»>^ 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


73  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  87:4503 


^<^X"Q 


^ 


^ 


% 


196 


THE   INDIANS   OF 


able  to  effect  my  escape.  The  Crows  slaughterea 
many  of  their  enemies ;  but  the  Blackfoot  war- 
riors and  braves  were  at  last  too  strong  for  them. 
Then  was  heard  the  shrill  whistle  that  sounded  a 
retreat.  With  a  dozen  scalps  in  their  possession, 
the  Crows  sought  the  shelter  of  the  forest,  and 
afterwards  regained  their  own  village. 

Austin.  Are  the  Crow  tribe  or  the  Blackfoot 
tribe  the  strongest  ? 

Hunter.  The  Crow  Indians,  as  I  told  you,  are 
taller  and  more  elegant  men  than  the  Blackfeet ; 
but  the  latter  have  broader  chests  and  shoulders. 
The  Blackfeet,  some  think,  take  their  name  from 
the  circumstance  of  their  wearing  black,  or  very 
dark  brown  leggings  and  mocassins.  Whether, 
as  a  people,  the  Crows  or  the  Blackfeet  are  the 
strongest,  there  is  a  diversity  of  opinion.  The 
Blackfeet  are  almost  always  at  war  with  the 
Crows. 

Austin.  What  batding  there  must  be  among 
them! 

Hunter.  Their  war-parties  are  very  numerous, 
and  their  encampments  are  very  large :  and,  whe- 
ther seen  in  the  day,  in  the  midst  of  their  lodges; 
or  at  night,  wrapped  in  their  robes,  with  their 
arms  in  their  hands,  ready  to  leap  up  if  attacked 
by  an  enemy;  they  form  a  striking  spectacle. 
Sometimes,  in  a  night  encampment,  a  false  alarm 
takes  place.  A  prowling  bear,  or  a  si;  ay  horse, 
is  taken  for  a  foe ;  and  sometimes  a  real  alarm  is  Jn 
occasioned  by  spies  crawling  on  their  hands  and 
knees  up  to  their  very  encampment  to  ascertain 
their  strength.      On   these  occasions  the  shrill 


I 


f-w 


m- 


■f 


orse, 
rm  is  ii 
and 
rtain 


\) 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


197 


\ 


v^histle  is  heard,  every  man  springs  up  armed  and 
rushes  forth,  ready  to  resist  his  assailing  enemy. 
I  have  seen  war-parties  among  the  Crows  and 
Blackfeet,  the  Mandans  and  Sioux,  the  Shawa- 
nees,  Poncas,  Pawnees  and  Seminoles.  But  a 
Camanchee  war-party,  mounted  on  wild  horses, 
with  their  shields,  bows  and  lances,  which  I  once 
■witnessed,  was  the  most  imposing  spectacle  of 
the  kind  I  ever  saw.  The  chief  was  mounted  on 
a  beautiful  war-horse,  wild  as  the  winds,  and  yet 
he  appeared  to  manage  him  with  ease.  He  was 
in  full  dress,  and  seemed  to  have  as  much  fire  in 
his  disposition  as  the  chafed  animal  on  which  he 
rode.  In  his  bridle-hand,  he  clutched  his  bow 
and  several  arrows;  with  his  other  hand,  he 
wielded  his  long  lance;  while  his  quiver  and 
shield  were  slung  at  his  back,  and  his  rifle  across 
his  thigh. 

Austin.  I  think  I  can  see  him. .  But  what 
colour  was  his  war-horse  ? 

Hunter.  Black  as  a  raven ;  but  the  white  foam 
lay  in  thick  flakes  on  his  neck  and  breast,  for  his 
rider  at  every  few  paces  stuck  the  sharp  rowels 
of  his  Spanish  spurs  into  his  sides.  He  had  a 
long  flowing  mane  and  tail,  and  his  full  and  fiery 
eyes  seemed  ready  to  start  out  of  his  head.  The 
■whole  Camanchee  band  was  ready  to  rush  into 
any  danger.  At  one  time,  they  were  flying  over 
the  prairie  in  single  file ;  and  at  another,  drawn 
up  all  abreast  of  each  other.  The  Camanchees 
and  the  Osages  used  to  have  cruel  battles  one  with 
another.  The  Mandans  and  the  Riccarees,  too, 
were  relentless  enemies. 

17*  *  ,. 


i*<^ 


•m- 


\. 


a; 


W' 


O*', 


// 


*'l*.!-    .    ., 


\ 


198 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


Brian.  And  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  were  great 
fighters,  for  Black  Hawk  was  a  famous  fellow. 

Hunter.  Yes,  he  was.  But  I  have  never  told 
you,  I  believe,  how  the  medicine  man,  or  mystery 
man,  conducts  himself  when  called  into  a  wounded 
warrior. 

Austin.  Not  a  word  of  it.  Please  to  tell  us 
every  particular. 

Hunter.  In  some  cases  cures  are  certainly  per- 
formed ;  in  others,  the  wounded  get  well  of  them- 
selves :  but,  in  most  instances,  the  mystery  man 
is  a  mere  juggler. 

Basil,  Now  we  shall  hear  of  the  mystery 
man. 

Hunter.  The  Crow  war-party  that  I  had  joined 
brought  away  two  of  their  wounded  warriors  when 
they  retreated  from  the  Blackfoot  village,  but 
there  seemed  to  be  no  hope  of  saving  their  lives. 
However,  a  mystery  man  was  called  on  to  use 
his  skill. 

.Austin.  Ay ;  I  want  to  know  how  the  mystery 
man  cures  his  patients. 

Hunter.  If  ever  you  should  require  a  doctor,  I 
hope  you  will  have  one  more  skilful  than  the 
mystery  man  that  I  am  going  to  describe.  The 
wounded  warriors  were  in  extremity,  and  I  thought 
that  one  of  them  was  dying  before  the  mystery 
man  made  his  appearance;  but  you  shall  hear. 
The  wounded  men  lay  groaning  on  the  ground, 
■  with  Indians  around  them,  who  kept  moaning  even 
louder  than  they  did ;  when,  all  at  once,  a  scuffle 
I  of  feet  and  a  noise  like  that  of  a  low  rattle  were 
^  heard. 


•«■ 


n 
■^ 


w 


pT         lU    IM? 


*•■•■*•  m- 


.^w 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


199 


ives. 
use 


*;*- 


Austin,  The  mystery  man  was  coming,  I  suppose. 

Hunter,  He  was ;  and  a  death-like  silence  was 
instantly  preserved  by  all  the  attendant  Indians. 
In  came  the  mystery  man,  covered  over  with  the 
shaggy  hide  of  a  yellow  bear,  so  that,  had  it  not 
been  that  his  mocassins,  leggings  and  hands 
were  visible,  you  mi^ht  have  supposed  a  real 
bear  was  walkmg  upright,  with  a  spear  in  one 
paw,  and  a  rattle,  formed  like  a  tambourine,  in  the 
other.  -  I 

Basil.  He  could  never  cure  the  dying  man  with 
his  tambourine. 

Hunter,  From  the  yellow  bear-skin  hung  a  pro- 
fusion of  smaller  skins,  such  as  those  of  different 
kinds  of  snakes,  toads,  frog's  and  bats ;  with  hoofe 
of  animals,  beaks  and  tails  of  birds,  and  scraps  and 
fragments  of  other  things ;  a  complete  bundle  of 
odds  and  ends.  The  medicine  man  came  into  the 
circle,  bending  his  knees,  crouching,  sliding  one 
foot  afi'^r  the  other  along  the  ground,  and  now  and 
then  leaping  and  grunting.  You  could  not  see 
his  face,  for  the  yellow  bear-head  skin  covered  it, 
and  the  paws  dangled  before  him.  He  shuffled 
round  and  round  the  wounded  men,  shaking  his 
rattle  and  making  all  kinds  of  odd  noises;  he 
then  slopped  to  turn  them  over.  > 

Austini  He  had  need  of  all  his  medicine. 

Hunter.  Hardly  had  he  been  present  a  minute, 
before  one  of  the  men  died  ;  and,  in  ten  minutes 
more,  his  companion  breathed  his  last.  The  medi- 
cine man  turned  them  over,  shook  his  rattle  over 
them,  howled,  groaned  and  grunted ;  but  it  would 
not  do ;  the  men  were  dead,  and  all  his  mummery 


#' 


Iff- 


■w 


* 


I 


%.' 


200 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


would  not  bring  thegii  back  to  life  again ;  so,  afler 
a  few  antics  of  various  kinds,  he  shufHed  off  with 
himself,  shaking  his  rattle,  and  howling  and  groan- 
ing louder  than  ever.  You  may  remember,  that  I 
told  you  of  the  death  of  Oseola,  the  Seminole 
chief:  he  who  struck  his  dagger  through  the 
treaty  that  was  to  sign  away  the  hunting-grounds 
of  his  tdbC)  in  exchange  for  distant  lands. 

Austin,  Yes.  You  said  that  he  dashed  his  dag- 
ger not  only  through  the  contract,  but  also  through 
Sie  table  on  which  it  lay.  r  ^t 

Brian.  And  you  told  us  that  he  was  taken 
prisoner  by  treachery  and  died  in  captivity. 

Hunter,  Now  I  will  tell  you  the  particulars  of 
his  death ;  for  I  only  said  before,  that  he  died 
pillowed  on  the  faithful  bosom  of  his  wife.  He 
had  his  two  wives  with  him  wl^en  he  died,  but 
one  was  his  favourite. 

Austin.  Please  to  let  us  know  every  thing  about 
him.  It  was  at  Fort  Moultrie  in  Charleston,  South 
Carolina. 

Hunter.  Finding  himself  at  the  point  of  death, 

he  made  signs  that  the  chiefs  and  officers  might 

be  assembled,  and  his  wishes  were  immediately 

complied  with.     The  next  thing  he  desired  was, 

that  his  war-dress,  that  dress  in  which  he  had  so 

ofteh  led  his  tribe  to  victory,  might  be  brought  to 

him.     His  wife  waited  obediently  upon  him,  and 

his  war-dress  was  placed  before  him. 

^       Basil.  What  cculd  he  want  of  his  war-dress 

,     when  he  was  going  to  die  ? 

i.         Austin.  Wait  a  little,  Basil,  and  you  will  hear 

all  about  it,  I  dare  say.  .,  , 


-'*-t;^  n 


U- 


m 


■fy^ 


■.<t^ 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


201 


iath, 

light 

itely 

ras, 

Id  so 

it  to 

and 

[ress 

lear 


Hunter,  It  \fras  an  affecting  sight,  to  see  him 
get  up  from  his  hed  on  the  floor,  once  more  to 
dress  himself  as  a  chief  of  his  tribe,  just  as  if  Jie 
"was  about  to  head  an  expedition  against  &e 
"whites.  Well,  he  put  on  his  rich  mocassins,  his 
leggings  adorned  with  scalp-locks,  his  shirt  and 
his  ornamental  belt  of  war.  Nor  did  he  forget 
the  pouch  that  carried  his  bullets,  the  horn  that 
held  his  powder,  nor  the  knife  with  which  he  had 
taken  so  many  scalps. 

Brian,  How  very  strange  for  a  dying  man  to 
dress  himself  in  that  way ! 

Hunter,  In  all  this,  he  was  as  calm  and  as 
steady  as  though  about  to  hunt  in  the  woods  with 
his  tribe.  He  then  made  signs,  while  sitting  up 
in  his  bed,  that  his  red  paint  should  be  given  nim, 
and  his  looking-glass  held  up,  that  he  might  paint 
his  face. 

Austin,  And  did  he  paint  his  face  himself? 

Hunter,  Only  one  half  of  it ;  after  which  his 
throat,  neck,  wrists  and  the  backs  of  his  hands 
were  made  as  red  as  vermilion  would  make  them. 
The  very  handle  of  his  knife  was  coloured  over  in 
the  same  way. 

Basil,  What  did  he  paint  his  hands  and  his 
knife-handle  for  ? 

Hunter,  Because  it  was  the  custom  of  his  tribe, 
and  of  his  Mbers  before  him,  to  paint  themselves 
and  their  weapons  red,  whenever  they  took  an 
oath  of  destruction  to  their  enemies.  Oseola  did 
it,  no  doubt,  that  he  might  die  like  a  chief  of  his 
tribe ;  that  he  might  show  those  around  him,  that, 
even  in  death,  he  did  not  forget  that  he  was  a 


^ 


■^^ 


idfe 


,W" 


202 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


»« 


Seminole  warrior.     In  that  awful  hour,  he  put  on 
his  splendid  turban  with  its  three  ostrich  feathers, 

j^an(}  then,  being .  wearied  with  the  effort  he  had 
ibfroe,  he  lay  down  to  recover  his  strength. 
"Austin.  How  weak  he  must  have  been  ! 
'  Hunter.  In  a  short  time  he  rose  again,  sitting 

,•  in  his  full  dress  like  the  leader  of  a  warlike  tribe, 
and  calmly  and  smilingly  extended  his  hand  to 
the  -chiefs  and  officers,  to  his  wives  and  his  chil- 
dren. But  this,  his  last  effort,  exhausted  his  re- 
maining strength.  He  was  lowered  down  on  the 
bed,  calmly  drew  his  scalpiiig-knife  from  its 
sheath  under  his  war-belt,  where  it  had  been 
placed,  and  grasped  it  with  firmness  and  dignity. 
With  his  hands  crossed  on  his  manly  breast,  and 
with  a  smile  on  his  face,  he  breathed  his  last. 
Thus  passed  away  the  spirit  of  Oseola. 

Austin.  Poor  Oseola!    He  died  like  a  chief, 
at  last. 

Hunter.  He  did,  but  not  like  a  Christian,  and, 
rery  likely,  when  he  grasped  his  scalping-knife, 
before  his  last  breath  forsook  him,  some  glowing 
vision  of  successful  combat  was  before  him.  In 
the  pride  of  his  heart,  perhaps,  he  was  leading  on 
his  braves  to  mingle  in  the  clash  of  battle  and 
the  death-grapple  with  his  enemies.  But  is  this 
a  fit  state  of  mind  for  a  man  to  die  in  ?  Much  as 
we  may  admire  the  steady  firmness  and  unsub- 
dued courage  of  an  Indian  warrior  in  death,  emo- 
I  tions  of  pride  and  high-mindedness,  and  thoughts 
of  bloodshed  and  victory,  are  as  far  removed  as 
possible  from  the  principles  of  Christianity,  and  most 


#^^''- 


"■'■'V 


» t 


!'^e 


)r- 


\ 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


,,.x^ 


'Mi 


203 


unsuitable  to  a  dyin^  hour.  Humility,  forgiveness, 
repentance,  hope,  faith,  peace  and  joy,  are  needed 
at  such  a  season ;  and  the  time  will  come,  ye 
trust,  when  Indians,  taught  better  by  the  gospel, 
will  think  and  feel  so.     u  « 


,V"     ):•"-• 


'.^•■'v^'T.--   -•'■A- 


,.„::x^. 


«'..  i> 


1 

^•*' 

<!■ 

i*^ 


i^'r- 


emo- 
ights 
d  as 
most 


^m 


* 


Mjv^ 


■**•■ 


^^ 


4:. 


■I 


?^''      ,/-•  .:•■ 


*tr-r.  *-y"- 


^  4 


'«■-■■■  ■ 


^0M:- 


-M' 


a^  ■i-^M^'-p.-'Ml^} 


■■->•!* 


>r.^ 


,*. 


*"    • .»« 


204 


THE   INDIANS  OF 


k 


P 


-^  CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  holidays  of  the  three  brothers  were  draw- 
ing to  a  close ;  and  this  circumstance  rendered 
them  the  more,  anxious  to  secure  one  or  two  more 
visits  to  the  cottage,  before  they  settled  down  in 
right  earnest  to  their  books.  Brian  and  Basil 
talked  much  about  the  poisoned  arrows,  and  the 
mystery  man ;  but  Austin's  mind  ^M9.f  too  much 
occupied  with  the  Camanchee  chifif  Jjln  his  black 
war-horse,  and  the  death  of  the  S^nole  chief 
Oseola,  to  think  much  of  apy  this%  else.  He 
thought  there  was  something  very  noble  in  the 


,*T 


h^X. 


a*,' 


■;* 


^.  . 


\ .-.' 


le  draw- 
lendered 
ro  more 
lown  in 
Id  Basil 
md  the 
much 
|s  hlack 
le  chief 
se.    He 
in  the 


M 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


20& 


valour  of  a  chief  leading  on  his  tribe  to  con- 

3uest;  and  something  almost  sublime  in  i  warrior 
ressing  himself  up  in  hiapar-n^i^  die.  Like 
many  other  young  peof^^pf  ann^|%spositions, 
he  seemed  to  forget,  that  when  a  VidtOry  is  en- 
joyed, a  defeat  must  be  endured ;  and  that  be- 
fore any  one  can  rejoice  in  taking  a  scalp,  some 
one  must  be  rendered  miserable  or  lifeless  by 
losmg  it.  The  remarks  of  the  hunter,  respecting , 
the  inconsistency  of  such  customs  with  the  peace- 
ful principles  of  religion,  especially  the  solemnities 
of  a  dying  hour,  had  not  been  made  altogether  in 
vain  ;  yet  still  he  dwelt  on  the  image  of  Oseola 
grasping  his  scalping-knife,  crossing  his  hands 
over  his  breast,  and  dying  with  a  smile  on  his 
countenance.        ■  >. •  . .; : '  ■  ^  -  -  :'■■•''  ■  :i?-W' ,  W:  ■ 

Oh  their  next  walk  to  the  cottage,  the  way  was  be- 
guiled by  endeavouring  to  call  to  mind  all  that  had 
been  told  them  on  their  last  visit ;  and,  to  do  Him 
justice,  he  acquitted  himself  uncommonly  wefL 
It  is  true,  that  now  and  then  his  brothers  refreshea 
his  memory  on  some  points  which  had  escaped 
him;  but,  on  the  whole,  his  account  was  full, 
connected,  and  clear. 

"  And  what  must  I  tell  you  now  ?"  said  the 
hunter,  as  soon  as  he  and  the  young  people  had 
exchanged  salutations.  '^Do  you  not  know 
enough  about  the  Indians  ?"    ^-^t 

To  this  inquiry,  Brian  replied  that  what  they 
had  heard  had  only  increased  their  puriosity  ta^ 
hear  more.      ^^  -■     i^/.  ^?t(<     7^ 

"  Well ;  let  me  consider,"  said  the  hunter.  "  I 
have  told  you  about  the  different  tribes  of  Indians, 

^     '  :    ^■■■'^-v-:-^   -l    18  "        "    ^^       " 


':tr 


*»*: 


* 


*■ 


M' 


w 


*%A 


206 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


1.. ; 


their  religion,  languages,  manners  and  customs ; 
their  villages,  wigwams,  food,  dress,  arms  and 
musical  instruments.  I  have  described  to  you  the 
fur  trade;  and  dwelt  on  the  scenery  of  the 
country,  the  mountains,  rivers,  lakes,  prairies 
and  many  remarkable  places.  I  have  related  the 
advfthlures  of  Black  Hawk  and  Nikkanochee. 
And,  besides  these  things,  you  have  had  a  tole- 
rably full  account  of  buffaloes,  bears,  wild  horses, 
wolves,  deer  and  other  animals,  with  the  manner 
•f  hunting  them ;  as  well  as  a  relation  of  Indian 
amusements,  dances,  sham  fights,  war-parties,  en- 
'  campments,  alarms,  attacks,  scalping  and  retreats. 
Let  me  now,  then,  dwell  a  little  on  the  Indian 
way  of  concluding  a  treaty  of  peace,  and  on  a 

-    few  other  matters ;  after  which,  I  will  conclude 

with  the  best  account  I  can  give  you  of  what  the 

missionaries  have  done  among  the  different  tribes." 

Austin.     I  shall  be  very  sorry  when  you  have 

^d  us  all. 

Brian.,,t  And  so  shall  I :  for  it  is  so  pleasing  to 
come  here,  and  listen  to  what  you  tell  us. 

Hunter.  When  it  is  agreed  between  hostile 
tribes  that  a  treaty  of  peace  shall  be  made,  the 
'Chiefs  and  medicine  men  of  the  adverse  tribes 
meet  together,  and  the  calumet,  or  peace-pipe, 
ornamented  with  eagle  quills,  being  produced, 

^  every  one  smokes  a  few  whifTs  through  it.  It  is 
then  understood  by  them  that  the  tomahawk  is  to 
be  buried.  The  pipe-of-peace  dance  is  then  per- 
formed by  the  warriors,  to  the  beat  of  the  Indian 
dmm  ancl  rattle,  every  warrior  holding  his  pipe  in 
his  hand.  ^.; 

*  *^%^>  •- 1;  '  ;' "  ■   , 

tida-    t'-t,'- .%'-Mi'     ,'^t  -    j.v      .,-      jf  .■  '.lij  "1  .1.  ■".' 


H 


kostile 
.,  the 
Itribes 
■pipe, 
|uced, 
It  is 
is  to 
per- 
tndian 
lipein 


i^ 


■•'W 


(I'- 


% 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


207 


Brian,  That  pipe-of-peace  dance  is  a  capital 
dance,  for  then  bloodshed  is  at  an  end. 

Hunter,  Unfortunately,  war  is  apt  soon  to 
break  out  again,  and  then  the  buried  tomahawk 
becomes  as  busy  as  ever.  ^ 

Austin,  Well,  I  do  like  the  Indians,  in  spite 
of  all  their  faults,  and  I  think  they  have  bein  used 
cruelly  by  the  whites.  ^'•^ 

Hunter,  As  a  general  remark,  tho$e  Indians 
who  have  had  least  to  do  with  civilized  life  are 
the  most  worthy  of  regard.  Such  as  live  near 
white  men,  or  such  as  are  frequently  visited  by 
them,  seem  to  learn  quickly  the  vices  of  others, 
without  giving  up  their  own.  To  observe  the 
real  character  of  red  men,  it  is  necessary  to  trace 
the  turnings  and  windings  of  the  Yellow  Stone  • 
River,  or  the  yet  more  remote  sinuosities  of  the  *^ 
Upper  Missouri.  The  nearer  the  United  States, 
the  more  servile  is  the  Indian  character ;  and  the 
nearer  the  Rocky  Mountains,  the  more  indepen^i^ 
ent  and  open-hearted. 

Austin,  If  I  ever  go  among  the  red  men,  the 
Yellow  Stone  River,  or  the  Upper  Missouri,  will 
be  the  place  for  me. 

Hunter,  Many  of  the  chiefs  of  the  tribes  near 
the  Rocky  Mountains  may  be  said  to  live  in  a 
state  of  splendour.  They  have  the  pure  air  of 
heaven  around  them  and  rivers  abounding  in  fish, 
r'ields  them  buffaloes  in  plenty ;  and, 
dges  and  dress,  some  of  them  may  .^ 
mptuous.  Sometimes,  twenty  or 
skins,  beautifully  dressed,  are  joined, 
rm  a  covering  for  a  lodge ;  and  their 


<.i*. 
:♦ 


W' 


A 


\ 


'1 


208 


THE   INDIANS  OF 


robes  and  different  articles  of  apparel  are  so  rich 
with  ermine,  the  nails  and  claws  of  birds  and  ani* 
mals,  war-eagle  plumes,  and  embroidery  of  highly 
coloured  porcupine  quills,  that  a  monarch  in  his 
coronation  robes  is  scarcely  a  spectacle  more  im- 
posing. 

Austin.  Ay,  I  remember  the  dress  of  Mah-to- 
toh-pa, "  the  four  bears,"  his  buffalo  robe,  his  por- 
cupine-quilled leggings,  his  embroidered  buck- 
skin mocassins,  his  otter  necklace,  his  buffalo 
horns,  and  his  splendid  head-dress  of  war-eagle 
plumes. 

Hunter.  In  a  state  of  war,  it  is  the  delight  of  a 
chief  to  leap  on  the  back  of  his  fiery  steed,  de- 
corated as  the  leader  of  his  tribe,  and  armed  with 
his  glittering  lance  and  unerring  bow,  to  lead  on 
his  band  to  victory.  In  the  chase,  he  is  as  ardent 
as  in  the  battle  ;  smiling  at  danger,  he  plunges, 
on  his  flying  steed,  among  a  thousand  buffaloes, 
launching  his  fatal  shafts  with  deadly  effect.  Thus 
has  the  Indian  of  the  far-west  lived,  and  thus  is 
he  living  still.  But  the  trader  and  the  rum-bottle, 
and  the  rifle  and  the  white  man  are  on  his  track ; 
and,  like  his  red  brethren  who  once  dwelt  east 
of  the  Mississippi,  he  must  fall  back  yet  farther,^ 
and  gradually  decline  before  the  approach  of 
civilization. 

Austin.  It  is  a  very  strange  thing  that  white 
men  will  not  let  red  men  alone.  What  right 
have  they  to  cheat  them  of  their  hunting-grounds  ^ 

Hunter.  I  will  relate  to  you  an  account,  that 
appeared  some  time  agd  in  most  of  the  newspapers, 
(though  I  cannot  vouch  for  the  truth  of  it,)  of 
a  (^ef  who,  though  he  was  respected  by  his 


I 


♦  * 


■k  #•  ■* 


,'■*? 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


209 


her,^ 
of 


hite 
iffht 


iffht 
ds? 


ers, 
of 
his 


1  .'Y 

tribe  before  he  went  among  the  v/hites,  had  very 
little  respect  paid  to  him  afterwards. 

Brian.  I  hope  it  is  a  long  account. 

Hunter.  Not  very  long:  but  you  shall  hear. 
"  In  order  to  assist  the  officers  of  the  Indian  de- 
partment, in  their  arduous  duty  of  persuading^ 
remote  tribes  to  quit  their  lands,  it  has  been  foui^' 
advisable  to  incur  the  expense  of  inviting  on^-^r 
two  of  their  chiefs  some  two  or  three  thousand 
miles  to  Washington,  in  order  that  they^hould 
see  with  their  own  eyes,  and  report  to  their  tribes, 
the  irresistible  power  of  the  nation  with  which 
they  are  arguing.  This  speculation  has,  it  is  said, 
in  all  instances,  more  or  less  effected  its  object. 
For  the  reasons  and  for  the  objects  we  have  stated^ 
it  was  deemed  advisable  that  a  certain  chief  shoulcM 
be  invited  from  his  remote  country  to  Washington  ; 
and  accordingly,  in  due  time,  he  appeared  there." 

Austin.  Two  or  three  thousand  miles !  What 
a  distance  for  him  to  go ! 

Hunter.  "  After  the  troops  had  been  made  to 
manoBuvre  before  him ;  after  thundering  volleys 
of  artillery  had  almost  deafened  him ;  and  after 
every  department  had  displayed  to  him  all  that 
was  likely  to  add  to  the  terror  and  astonishment 
he  had  already  experienced,  the  President,  in  lieu 
of  the  Indian's  clothes,  presented  him  with  a 
colonel's  uniform  ;  in  which,  and  with  many  other 
presents,  the  bewildered  chief  took  his  departure.'' 

Brian.  He  would  hardly  know  how  to  walk  in 
a  colonel's  uniform. 

Hunter.  "In  a  pair  of  white  kid  gloves ;  tight 
gilt  buttons,  gold  epaulettes^  and 


18^ 


i< 


■» 


-*■**•■«■ 


ym 


r ' 


»■')■ 


210 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


red  sash ;  cloth  trowsers  with  straps ;  high-heeled 
boots;  cocked  hat,  and  scarlet  feather;  with  a 
cigar  in  his  mouth,  a  green  umbrella  in  one  hand, 
and  a  yellow  fan  in  the  other ;  and  with  the  neck 
of  a  whiskey  bottle  protruding  out  of  each  of 
the  two  tail-pockets  of  his  regimental  coat ;  this 
*  monkey  that  had  seen  the  world'  suddenly  ap- 
peared before  the  chiefs  and  warriors  of  his  tribe ; 
and  as  he  stood  before  them,  straight  as  a  ramrod, 
in  a  high  state  of  perspiration,  caused  by  the 
tightness  of  his  finery,  while  the  cool  fresh  air  of 
heaven  blew  over  the  naked,  unrestrained  limbs 
'of  the  spectators,  it  might,  perhaps  not  unjustly, 
be  said  of  the  costumes,  *  Which  is  the  savage  ?' 
In  return  for  the  presents  he  had  received,  and 
*with  a  desire  to  impart  as  much  real  information 
as  possible  to  his  tribe,  the  poor  jaded  traveller 
undertook  to  deliver  to  them  a  course  of  lectures, - 
in  which  he  graphically  described  all  that  he  had 
^witnessed." 

Austin.  An  Indian  in  white  kid  gloves,  blue 
coat,  high-heeled  boots,  and  cocked  hat  and  fea- 
ther! Why  his  tribe  would  all  laugh  at  him,  in 
spite  of  his  lectures. 

Hunter.  "  For  a  while  he  was  listened  to  with 
attention  ;  but  as  soon  as  the  minds  of  his  audi- 
ence had  received  as  much  as  they  could  hold, 
they  began  to  disbelieve  him.  Nothing  daunted, 
however,  the  traveller  still  proceeded." 

Austin.  I  thought  they  would  laugh  at  him. 

Hunter.  "  He  told  them  about  wigwams,  in 
which  a  thousand  people  could  at  one  time  pray 
to  the  Great  Spirit ;  of  other  wigwams,  five  stories 


M. 


% 


.'JS. 


"TWjP 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


211 


blue 
fea- 


with 


Im. 

\s,  in 

pray 

tories 


high,  built  in  lines,  facing  each  other,  and  extend- 
ing over  an  enormous  space :  he  told  them  of 
war  canoes  that  would  hold  twelve  hundred  war- 


/' 


nors. 


}) 


Austin,  They  would  be  sure  never  to  believe 
hira.    V 

Hunter.  "Such  tales,  to  the  Indian  mind, 
seemed  an  insult  to  common  sense.     For  some 


time  he  was  treated  merely  with  ridicule  aQih^|^ 
tempt ;  but,  when,  resolutely  continuing  to  rCTWml 
his  adventures,  he  told  them  about  a  balloon,  and 
that  he  had  seen  white  people,  who,  by  attaching 
a  great  ball  to  a  canoe,  as  he  described  it,  cquld 
rise  in  it  up  to  the  clouds,  and  travel  through  the 
heavens,  the  medicine,  or  mystery  men  of  his  tribe 
pronounced  him  to  be  an  impostor ;  and  the 
multitude  vociferously  declaring  that  he  was  too 
great  a  liar  to  live,  a  young  warrior,  in  a  paroxysm 
of  anger,  levelled  a  rifle  and  shot  him  dead !" 

Austin.  Well,  I  am  very  sorry !  It  was  very 
silly  to  be  dressed  up  in  that  way  ;  but  they  ought 
not  to  have  killed  him,  for  he  told  them  the  truth^ 
after  all.  ■^■■m0* 

Brian.  I  could  never  have  thought  that  an  Inf 
dian  chief  would  have  dressed  himself  in  a  blue 
coat  and  gilt  buttons. 

Basil.  And,  then,  the  fan  and  green  umbrella! 

Austin.  Ay,  and  the  whiskey  bottles  sticking 
out  of  his  tail-pockets.  He  would  look  a  little 
different  from  Mah-to-toh-pa. 

Hunter.  I  have  frequently  spoken  of  the  splendid 
head-dress  of  the  chiefs  of  some  tribes.  Among 
the  Mandans,  (and  you  know  Mah-to-toh-pa  was 


.?i» 


■te 


I 


212 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


*a  Mandan,)  they  would  not  part  with  one  of  their 
head-dresses  of  war-eagle  plumes  at  a  less. price 
than  two  horses.  The  Konzas,  Osages,  Pawnees, 
Sacs,  Foxes  and  lowas  shave  their  heads ;  but 
all  the  rest,  or  at  least  as  far  as  I  know  of  the 
Indian  tribes,  wear  long  hair. 

Brian,  Yes;  we  remember  the  Crows,  with 
their  hair  sweeping  the  ground. 

flitter.  Did  I  tell  you,  that  some  of  the  tribes 
other  hair  to  their  own  to  make  it  long^  as  it 
is  considered  so  ornamental  ? 

Basil,  I  do  not  remember  that  you  told  us  that. 
'  Hunter,  There  are  a  few  other  things  respect- 
ing the  Indians  that  I  wish  to  mention,  before  I 
tell  you  what  the  missionaries  have  done  among 
them.  In  civilized  countries,  people  turn  out 
their  toes  in  walking;  but  this  is  not  the  case 
among  the  Indians.  When  the  toes  are  turned 
out,  either  in  walking  or  running,  the  whole 
weight  of  the  body  falls  too  much  on  the  great 
toe  of  the  foot  that  is  behind,  and  it  is  mainly 
owing  to  this  circumstance,  that  so  many  have  a 
deformity  at  the  joint  of  the  great  toe.  When  the 
foot  is  turned  in,  the  weight  of  the  body  is  thrown 
equally  on  all  the  toes,  and  the  deformity  of  the 
great  toe  joint  is  avoided. 

Austin.  What!  do  the  Indians  know  better 
how  to  walk  than  we  do  ?  If  theirs  is  the  best 
way  to  walk,  why  do  not  we  all  walk  so  ? 

Hunter,  I  suppose,  because  it  is  not  so  elegant 
in  appearance  to  walk  so.  But  many  things  are 
done  by  civilized  people  on  account  of  fashion. 
Hundreds  and  hundreds  of  females  shorten  their 


«: 


NORTH  AMERICA; 


213 


itter 
)est 

rant 
are 

ion. 
leir 


lives  by  the  tight  clothing  and  lacings  with  which 
they  compress  their  bodies;  but  the  Indians  do 
not  commit  such  folly. 

Brian,  There  is  something  to  be  learned  from 
the  Indians,  after  all. 

Hunter.  There  is  a  custom  among  the  Sacs 
and  Foxes  that  I  do  not  think  I  spoke  of.  The 
Sacs  are  better  provided  with  horses  than  the 
Foxes:  and  so,  when  the  latter  go  to  war  and 
want  horses,  they  go  to  the  Sacs  and  beg  them. 
After  a  time,  they  sit  round  in  a  circle,  and  take 
up  their  pipes  to  smoke,  seemingly  quite  at  their 
ease ;  and,  while  they  are  whiffing  away,  the 
young  men  of  the  Sacs  ride  round  and  round  the 
circle,  every  now  and  then  cutting  at  the  shoul- 
ders of  the  Foxes  with  their  whips,  making  the 
blood  start  forth.  After  keeping  up  this  strange 
custom  for  some  time,  the  young  Sacs  dismount, 
and  present  their  horses  to  those  they  have  been 
flogging. 

Austin,  "What  a  curious  custom !  I  should  not 
much  like  to  be  flogged  in  that  manner. 

Hunter.  There  is  a  certain  rock  which  the 
Camanchees  always  visit  when  they  go  to  war. 
Putting  their  horses  at  full  speed,  they  shoot  their 
best  arrows  at  this  rock,  which  they  consider 
great  medicine.  If  they  did  not  go  through  this 
long-established  custom,  there  would  be  no  confi- 
dence among  thefli ;  but,  when  they  have  thus 
sacrificed  their  best  arrows  to  the  rock,  their  hope 
and  confidence  are  strong. 

Austin.  I  should  have  thought  they  would 
have  wanted  their  best  arrows  to  fight  with. 


'w- 


4 


•aW;.  -i 


•:^'ii,^\'\^:~\l   :>J*'>'   : 


'i^: 


214 


THE   INDIANS   OF 


Hunter,  There  is  no  accounting  for  the  super- 
stitions of  people.  There  is  nothing  too  absurd 
to  gain  belief  even  among  civilized  nations,  'when 
they  give  up  the  truth  of  God's  word,  and  follow 
the  traditions  or  commandments  of  men.  The 
Sioux  have  a  strange  notion  about  thunder ;  they 
say  that  the  thunder  is  hatched  by  a  small  bird, 
not  much  bigger  than  the  humming-bi|d.  There 
is,  in  the  Couteau  des  Prairies,  a  place  called 
"the  nest  of  the  thunder;"  and,  in  the  small 
bushes  there,  they  will  have  it  that  this  little  bird 
sits  upon  its  eggs  till  the  long  claps  of  thunder 
come  forth.  Strange  as  this  tradition  is,  there 
would  be  no  use  in  denying  it ;  for  the  supersti- 
tion of  the  Indian  is  too  strong  to  be  easily  done 
away  with.  The  same  people,  before  they  go  on 
a  buffalo  hunt,  usually  pay  a  visit  to  a  spot  where 
the  form  of  a  buffalo  is  cut  out  on  a  prairie. 
This  figure  is  great  medicine;  and  the  hunt  is 
sure  to  be  more  prosperous,  in  their  opinion,  after 
it  has  been  visited. 

Austin,  I  do  hope  that  we  shall  forget  none  of 
these  curious  things. 


£•;. 


■^4 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


215 


mper- 
ibsurd 
when 
follow 

The 
;  they 

bird, 
There 
called 

small 
le  bird 
bunder 
,  there 
ipersti- 
y  done 
f  go  on 
:  where 
prairie. 

unt  is 
after 

lone  of 


Elliot  Preachtng  to  the  Indians. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


For  the  last  time  but  one,  during  their  holi- 
days, Austin  and  his  brothers  set  off,  with  a  long 
afternoon  before  them,  to  listen  to  the  hunter's 
account  of  the  proceedings  of  the  missionaries 
among  the  Indians.  On  this  occasion,  they  paid 
another  visit  to  the  Red  Sand-stone  Rock  by  the 
river,  the  place  where  they  first  met  with  their 
friend,  the  hunter.  Hero  they  recalled  to  mind 
all  the  circumstances  which  had  taken  place  at  that 
spot,  and  agreed  that  the  hunter,  in  saving  their 
lives  by  his  timely  warning,  and  afterwards  add- 
ing so  much  as  he  had  done  to  their  information 
and  pleasure,  had  been  to  them  one  of  the  best 
friends  they  had  ever  known.    "With  very  friendly 


#:' 


# 


■-% 


-^ff 


•i-}. 


f 


216 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


and  grateful  feelings  towards  him,  they  hastened 
to  the  cottage,  when  the  Indians,  as  usual,  became 
the  subject  of  their  conversation.  "  And  now," 
said  Austin,  ^*  we  are  quite  ready  to  hear  about 
the  missionaries.'*  ;  '     "»•  ^ 

i  Hunter,  Let  me  speak  a  word  or  two  about 
the  Indians,  before  I  begin  my  account.  You  re- 
member that  I  told  you  of  the  Mandans. 
I  i  Austin,  Yes.  Mah-to-toh-pa  was  a  Mandan, 
"with  his  fine  robes  and  war-eagle  head-dress.  The 
xain-makers  were  Mandans ;  also  the  young  war- 
riors, who  went  through  so  many  tortures  m  the 
mystery  lodge. 

Hunter,  Well,  I  must  now  tell  you  a  sad  truth. 
After  I  lefl  the  Mandans,  great  changes  came  upon 
them  ;  and,  at  the  present  time,  hardly  a  single 
Mandan  is  alive. 

Austin,  Dreadful!  But  how  was  it?  What 
brought  it  all  about  ? 

,  Brian,  You  should  have  told  us  this  before, 
f  Hunter,  No.  I  preferred  to  tell  you  first  of 
the  people  as  they  were  when  I  was  with  them. 
You  may  remember  my  observation,  in  one  of 
your  early  visits,  that  great  changes  had  taken 
tjlace  among  them ;  that  the  tomahawks  of  the 
.stronger  tribes  had  thinned  the  others ;  that  many 
had  sold  their  lands  to  the  whites,  and  retired  to 
the  west  of  the  Mississippi ;  and  that  thousands 
had  fallen  a  prey  to  the  small-pox.  It  was  in  the 
year  1838  that  this  dreadful  disease  was  introduced 
among  the  Mandans,  and  other  tribes  of  the  fur- 
traders.  Of  the  Blackfeet,  Crows  and  two  or 
three  other  tribes,  twenty-five  thousand  perished ; 


•';yvv  .-•    ,'i 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


217 


istened 

)ecame 

now," 

about 

»  about 
ifou  re- 

[andan, 
3.  The 
Iff  war- 
}  in 


the 


id  truth, 
ne  upon 
i  single 

What 

)efore. 
first  of 

them, 
one  of 
taken 

of  the 
it  many 
tired  to 

usands 

;  in  the 
oduced 

he  fur- 
Itwo  or 
Irisbed ; 


but  of  the  poor  Mandans,  the  whole  tribe  was 
destroyed. 

Brian,  Why  did  they  not  get  a  doctor ;  or  go 
out  of  their  village  to  the  wide  prairie,  that  one 
might  not  catch  the  disease  from  another  ? 

Hunter,  Doctors  were  too  far  off;  and  the 
ravages  of  the  disease  were  so  swift  that  it  swept 
them  all  away  in  a  few  months.  Their  mystery 
men  could  not  help  them  ;  and  their  enemies,  the 
Sioux,  had  war-parties  round  their  village,  so  that 
they  could  not  go  out  to  the  wide  prairie.  There 
they  were,  dying  fast  in  their  village ;  and  little 
else  was  heard,  during  day  or  night,  but  wailing, 
howling  and  crying  to  the  Great  Spirit  to  relieve 
them. 

Austin,  And  did  Mah-to-toh-pa,  "the  four 
bears,"  die  too  ? 

Hunter,  Yes.  For,  though  he  recovered  from 
the  disease,  he  could  not  bear  up  against  the  loss 
of  his  wives  and  his  children.  They  all  died  be- 
fore his  eyes,  and  he  piled  them  together  in  his  lodge, 
and  covered  them  with  robes.  His  braves  and 
his  warriors  died,  and  life  had  no  charms  for  him  ; 
for  who  was  to  share  with  him  his  joy  or  his  grief? 
He  retired  from  his  wigwam,  and  fasted  six  days, 
lamenting  the  destruction  of  his  tribe.  He  then 
crawled  back  to  his  own  lodge,  laid  himself  by 
his  dead  family,  covered  himself  with  a  robe,  and 
died  like  an  Indian  chief.  This  is  a  melanctholy 
picture ;  and  when  I  first  heard  of  the  terrible 
event,  I  could  have  wept. 

Austin.  It  was  indeed  a  terrible  affair.  Have 
they  no  good  doctors  among  the  Indians  now  ? 


.;¥'• 


-«*■ 


218 


THE   INDIANS  OF 


Why  do  they  not  send  for  doctors  who  know  how 
to  cure  the  small-pox, instead  of  those  juggling 
mystery  men  ? 

Hunter,  Many  attempts  have  been  made  to 
introduce  vaccination  among  the  tribes  ;  but  their 
jealousy  and  want  of  confidence  in  white  men, 
who  have  so  much  wronged  them,  and  their  at- 
tachment to  their  own  customs  and  superstitions, 
have  prevented  those  attempts  from  being  very  suc- 
cessful. 

•Austin.  Who  was  the  first  missionary  who 
went  among  the  Indians  ? 

Hunter.  I  believe  the  first  Indian  missionary 
was  John  Eliot.  More  than  two  hundred  years 
ago,  a  body  of  pious  Englishmen  left  their  native 
land,  because  they  were  not  allowed  peaceably  to 
serve  God  according  to  their  consciences.  They 
landed  in  America,  having  obtained  a  grant  of 
land  there.  They  are  sometimes  called  "Puri- 
tans," and  sometimes  "the  Pilgrim  Fathers."  It 
is  certain,  that,  whatever  were  their  peculiarities, 
and  by  whatever  names  they  were  known,  the  fear 
of  God  and  the  love  of  mankind  animated  their 
hearts. 

These  men  did  not  seize  the  possessions  of  the 
Indians,  because  they  had  arms  and  skill  to  use 
them.  But  they  entered  into  a  treaty  with  them 
for  the  purchase  of  their  lands,  and  paid  them 
what  they  were  satisfied  to  receive.  It  is  true, 
that  what  the  white  man  gave  in  exchange  was 
of  little  value  to  him.  But  the  Indians  prized 
trinkets  more  than  they  wbuld  gold  and  silver, 


■^^iJt\-\T.rllf.- 


-■*  ■• 


'5;  ■: 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


219 


If  the 
use 
Ithem 
Ithem 
I  true, 
was 
Irized 
liver, 


and  they  only  wanted  hunting  and  fishing  grounds 
for  their  own  use.  These  early  colonists,  seeing 
that  the  Indians  were  living  in  idleness,  cruelty 
and  superstition,  were  desirous  to  instruct  them  in 
useful  arts,  and  still  more  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord ; 
and  John  Eliot,  who  had  lefl  England  to  join  his 
religious  friends  in  America,  was  the  first  Pro- 
testant missionary  among  the  Indians. 

Austin.  I  wonder  he  was  not  afraid  of  going 
among  them. 

Hunter.  He  that  truly  fears  God  has  no  need 
to  fear  danger  in  the  path  of  duty.  John  Eliot 
had  three  good  motives  that  girded  his  loins  and 
strengthened  his  heart:  the  first,  was  the  glory 
of  God,  in  the  conversion  of  the  poor  Indians ; 
the  second,  was  his  love  of  mankind,  and  pity  for 
such  as  were  ignorant  of  true  religion ;  and  the 
third,  was  his  desire  that  the  promise  of  his  friends 
to  spread  the  gospel  among  the  Indians  should  be 
fulfilled.  It  was  no  light  task  that  he  had  undev* 
taken,  as  I  will  prove  to  you.  I  dare  say,  that 
you  have  not  quite  forgotten  all  the  long  names 
that  I  gave  you. 

Austin.  I  remember  your  telling  us  of  them ; 
and  I  suppose  they,  are  the  longest  words  in  the 
world. 

Hunter.  I  will  now  give  you  two  words  in  one 
of  the  languages  that  John  Eliot  had  to  learn,  and 
then,  perhaps,  you  will  alter  your  opinion.  The 
first  of  them  is  noorromantammoonkanunonnashy 
which  means,  "  our  loves ;"  and  the  second,  or 
"  our  questions,"  is  'hmmogokdonattoottammocti* 
ieaongannunnonashi 


.0 


220 


THE   INDIANS  OF 


•    Austin,  Why  that  last  word  would  reach  all 
across  one  of  our  copy-books. 

Basil.  You  had  better  learn  those  two  words, 
Austin,  to  begin  with. 

Brian.  Ay,  do,  Austin ;  if  you  have  many  such 
when  you  go  among  the  red  men,  you  must  sit 
up  at  night  to  learn  what  you  have  to  speak  in 
the  day-time. 

Austin.  No,  no ;  I  have  settled  all  that.  I 
mean  to  have  an  interpreter  with  me ;  one  who 
knows  every  thing.  Please  to  tell  us  a  little  more 
about  Eliot. 
,  Hunter.  I  will.  An  author  says,  speaking  of 
missionaries,  "  As  I  hold  the  highest  tide  on  earth 
to  be  that  of  a  servant  of  God,  and  the  most  im- 
portant employment  that  of  making  known  to 
sinners  the  salvation  that  God  has  wrought  for 
#  them,  through  his  Son  Jesus  Christ ;  so  I  cannot 
but  estimate  very  highly  the  character  of  an 
humble,  zealous,  conscientious  missionary.  Men 
undertake,  endure  and  achieve  much  when 
riches  and  honours  and  reputation  are  to  be  at- 
tained ;  but  where  is  the  worldly  reputation  of 
him  who  goes,  with  his  life  in  his  hand,  to  make 
known  to  barbarous  lands  the  glad  tidings  of  sal- 
vation ?  Where  are  the  honours  and  the  money 
bags  of  the  missionary  ?  In  many  cases,  toil  and 
anxiety,  hunger  and  thirst,  reviling  and  violence, 
danger  and  death  await  him ;  but  where  is  his 
earthly  reward  ?"  Eliot's  labours  were  incessant ; 
translating  not  only  the  commandments,  the  Lord's 
prayer  and  many  parts  of  Scripture  into  the  Indian 
languages,  but  also  the  whole  Bible.    For  days 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


221 


loney 
il  and 
lence, 
is  his 
^sant ; 
iord's 
Indian 
days 


together  he  travelled  from  placp  to  place,  wet  to 
the  skin,  wringing  the  wet  from  his  stockings  at 
night.  Sometimes  he  was  treated  cruelly  by  the 
sachems,  (principal  chiefs,)  sagamores,  (lesser 
chiefs,)  and  powaws,  (conjurers,  or  mystery  men ;) 
but  though  they  thrust  him  out,  and  threatened  his 
life,  he  held  on  his  course,  telling  them  that  he 
was  in  the  service  of  the  Great  God,  and  feared 
them  not.  So  highly  did  they  think  of  his  ser- 
vices in  England,  that  a  book  was  printed,  called 
"  The  Day- breaking,  if  not  the  Sun-rising  of  the 
Gospel  with  the  Indians  in  New-England  ;"  and 
another,  entitled  "  The  Clear  Sunshine  of  the^ 
Gospel  breaking  forth  upon  the  Indians;"  and 
dedicated  to  the  parliament ;  in  order  that  assist- 
ance and  encouragement  might  be  given  him.  At 
the  close  of  a  grammar,  published  by  him,  he 
wrote  the  words,  "  Prayers  and  pains,  through 
faith  in  Christ  Jesus,  will  do  any  thing." 

Brian.  1  'should  think  that  he  was  one  of  the 
best  of  men. 

Hunter.    He  instituted  schools,  and  devoted 

himself  to  the  Christian  course  he  had  undertaken 

with  an  humble  and  ardent  spirit,  imtil  old  age 

and  increasing  infirmities  rendered  him  too  feeble 

to  do  as  he  had  done  before.     Even  then,  he 

catechised  the  negro  slaves  in  the  neighbourhood 

around  him  ;  and  took  a  poor  blind  boy  home  to 

his  own  house,  thftt  he  might  teach  him  to  commit 

to  memory  some  of  the  chapters  in  the  Bible. 

Among  the  last  expressions  that  dropped  from  his 

lips  were   the   words,   "Welcome  joy!    Pray! 

pray!  pray!"     This  was  in  the  eighty^sixth  yesasSi' 

19* 


■ij 


222 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


-v. 


of  his  age.  No  wonder  he  should  even  now  be  re- 
membered by  us  as  "The  apostle  of  the  Indians." 

Basil.  I  am  very  glad  that  you  told  us  about 
him.  What  a  good  old  man  he  must  have  been 
when  he  died! 

Hunter.  You:  will  find  an  interesting  history  of 
|L.  Eliot  in  your  Sunday-school  Library,  and  the  Life 

of  Brainerd*  also,  of  whom  I  will  tell  you  a  few 
things.  But  I  advise  you  to  read  both  books,  for 
such  short  remarks  as  I  make  cannot  be  distinctly 
remembered ;  and  the  characters  of  these  eminent 
lsi(^;inen  you  will  only  understand  by  reading  the 
i  history  of  their  lives. 

*^i^^  We  will  remember  this. 

IfyttM'.  There  were  many  good  men,  after  his 
death,  who  trod  as  closely  as  they  could  in  his 
steps :  but  I  must  not  stop  to  dwell  upon  them. 
David  Brainerd,  however,  must  not  be  passed  by : 
he  was  a  truly  humble  and  zealous  servant  of  the 
Most  High.  You  may  judge,  in  some  degree,  of 
his  interest  in  the  Indians  by  the  following  ex- 
tract from  his  diary : 

June  26.  "In  the  morning, my  desire  seemed 
to  rise,  and  ascend  up  freely  to  God.  Was  busy- 
most  of  the  day  in  translating  prayers  into  the 
language  of  the  Delaware  Indians ;  met  with  great 
difficulty,  because  my  interpreter  was  altogether 
unacquainted  with  the  business.  But  though  I 
was  much  discouraged  with  thU extreme  difficulty 
of  that  work,  yet  God  supported  me ;  and,  espe- 


*  Both  these  works  are  published  by  the  American  Sun- 
day-school Union.  ■  # 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


223 


o 


emed 
busy 
the 
great 
aether 
ugh  I 
iculty 
espe- 


cially in  the  evening,  gave  me  sweet  refreshment. 
In  prayer  my  soul  was  eYilarged,  and  my  faith 
drawn  into  sensible  exercise ;  was  enabled  to  cry 
to  God  for  my  poor  Indians;  and  though  the 
work  of  their  conversion  appeared  impossible  with 
mauy  yet  with  God  I  saw  all  things  were  possible. 
My  faith  was  much  strengthened,  by  observing 
the  wonderful  assistance  God  afforded  his  servants 
Nehemiah  and  Ezra,  in  reforming  his  people  and 
re-establishing  his  ancient  church.  I  was  much 
assisted  in  prayer  for  my  dear  Christian  friends, 
and  for  others  whom  I  apprehended  to  be  Christ- 
less  ;  but  was  more  especially  concerned  for 
poor  heathen,  and  those  of  my  own  charge; 
enabled  to  be  instant  in  prayer  (of  them-; 
hoped  that  God  would  bow  the  heavens  and 
come  down  for  their  salvation.  It  seemed  to  me, 
that  there  could  be  no  impediment  sufficient  to 
obstruct  that  glorious  work,  seeing  the  living 
God,  as  I  strongly  hoped,  was  engaged  for  it.  I 
continued  in  a  solemn  frame,  lifting  up  my  heart 
to  God  for  assistance  and  grace,  that  I  might  be 
more  mortified  to  this  present  world,  that  my 
whole  soul  might  be  taken  up  continually  in  con- 
cern for  the  advancement  of  Christ's  kingdom. 
Earnestly  desired  that  God  would  purge  me 
more,  that  I  might  be  a  chosen  vessel  to  bear  his 
name  among  the  heathens.  Continued  in  this 
frame  till  I  fell  asleep." 

Brian.    Why,  he  was  much  such  a  man  as 
Eliot. 

Hunter,    Both  Eliot  and  Brainerd  did  a  great 
deal  of  good  among,  the  Indians.     The  language 


•* 


'* 


4r 


^' 


224 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


of  Brainerd  was,  "  Here  am  I,  Lord,  send  me ; 
send  me  to  the  ends  of  the  iearth  ;  send  me  to  the 
rough,  the  savage  pagans  of  the  wilderness ;  send 
me  from  all  that  is  called  comfort  on  earth ;  send 
me  even  to  death  itself,  if  it  be  but  in  thy  service, 
and  to  extend  thy  kingdom." 

Brian,  I  hardly  know  whether  Eliot  was  the 
best  man,  orfBrainerd. 

Hunter.  They  were  very  unlike  in  one  thing ; 
for  Eliot  lived  till  he  was  eighty-six  years  old ; 
whereas  Brainerd  died  in  the  thirtieth  year  of  his 
age.  But  though  so  young,  it  is  said  of  him,  by 
(E  learned  and  good  man,  "The  Life  and  Diary 
of  David  Brainerd  exhibits  a  perfect  pattern  of 
the  qualities  which  should  distinguish  the  in- 
structor of  rude  and  barbarous  tribes ;  the  most 
invincible  patience  and  self-denial,  the  profound- 
est  humility,  exquisite  prudence,  indefatigable 
industry,  and  such  a  devotedness  to  Gad,  or 
rather  such  an  absorption  of  the  whole  Jpl  in 
zeal  for  the  Divine  glory  and  the  salvation  of 
men,  as  is  scarcely  to  be  paralleled  since  the  age 
of  the  apostles." 

Biian.    Then,  he  was  as  good  a  man  as  Eliot.- 

Hunter.  You  will  read  his  life  surely,  after  all 
you  have  heard  about  the  Indians,  and  will  be  sur- 
prised at  his  great  success  among  them.  I  will  read 
you  an  extract  from  a  letter  written  in  those  days  by 
some  Oneida  chiefs,  by  which  you  will  see  that 
the  labours  of  these  good  men  were  not  in  vain. 

"  The  holy  word  of  Jesus  has  got  place  amongst' 
us,  and  advances.     Many  have  lately  forsaken 
their  sins,  to  appearance,  and  turned  to  God. 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


225 


the 


or 
il  in 
of 
age 

:iiot. 
all 


aken 


There  are  some  among  us  who  are  very  stubborn 
and  strong;  but  Jesus  is  almighty,  and  hac  all 
strength,  and  his  holy  word  is  very  strong,  too : 
therefore  we  hope  it  will  conquer  and  succeed 
more  and  more.  We  say  no  more ;  only  we  ask 
our  fathers  to  pray  for  us,  though  'they  are  at  a 
great  distance.  Perhaps,  by-and-by,  through  the 
strength  and  mercy  of  Jesus,  we  shall  meet  in  his 
kingdom  above.     Farewell. 

Tagawarow,  chief  of  the  Bear  tribe, 
SuGHNAGEitVROT,  chkf  of  the  Wolf  tribe, 
Ojekheta,  chief  of  the  Turtle  tribeJ*^ 

Austin.  Why,  they^were  all  three  of  them 
chiefs!  ^^i- 

Hunter,  The  speech  made  by  the  chief.  Little 
Turtle,  at  Baltimore,  on  his  way  to  see  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  will  interest  you.  Some 
Quakers,  who  saw  him,  told  him  that  the  habit 
among  his  tribe  of  drinking  rum  prevented  them 
from  doing  them  good. 

"  Brothers  and  friends — When  your  forefathers 
first  met  on  this  island,  your  red  brethren  were 
very  numerous;  but,  since  the  introduction  amongst 
us  of  what  you  call  spirituous  liquors,  and  what 
we  think  may  justly  be  called  poison,  our  num- 
bers are  greatly  diminished.  It  has  destroyed  a 
great  part  of  your  red  brethren. 

"  My  friends  and  brothers — We  plainly  perceive 
that  you  see  the  very  evil  which  destroys  your  red 
brethren.  It  is  not  an  evil  of  our  own  making/ 
We  have  not  placed  it  amongst  ourselves ;  it  is  an 
evil  placed  amongst  us  by  the  white  people ;  we 
look  to  them  to  remove  it  out  of  the  country.    We 


,A 


■vr^ 


N      ' 


226 


THL  INDIANS  OF 


tell  them,  *  Brethren,  fetch  us  useful  things  :  bring 
us  goods  that  will  clothe  us,  our  women,  and  our 
children ;  and  not  this  evil  liquor,  that  destroys 
our  health,  that  destroys  our  reason,  that  destroys 
our  lives.'  But  all  that  we  can  say  on  this  sub- 
ject is  of  no  service,  nor  gives  relief  to  your  red 
brethren. 

"  My  friends  and  brothers — I  rejoice  to  find  that 
you  agree  in  opinion  with  us,  and  express  an 
anxiety  to  be,  if  possible,  of  service  to  us,  in  re- 
moving this  great  evil  out  of  our  country ;  an 
evil  which  has  had  so  much  room  in  it,  and  has 
'destroyed  so  many  of  ouiMives,  that  it  causes  our 
young  men  to  say,  *  We  had  better  be  at  war  with 
the  white  people.  This  liquor,  which  they  intro- 
duced into  our  country,  is  more  to  be  feared  than 
the  gun  or  tomahawk.'  There  are  more  of  us 
dead  since  the  treaty  of  Greeneville,  than  we  lost 
by  the  six  years'  war  before.  It  is  all  owing  to 
the  introduction  of  this  liquor  among  us. 

"  Brothers — When  our  young  men  have  been 
out  hunting,  and  are  returning  home  loaded  with 
skins  and  furs,  on  their  way,  if  it  happens  that 
they  come  where  this  whiskey  is  deposited,  the 
white  man  who  sells  it  tells  them  to  take  a  little 
drink.  Some  of  them  will  say,  *  No  ;  I  do  not 
want  it.'  They  go  on  till  they  come  to  another 
house,  where  they  find  more  of  the  same  kind  of 
drink.  It  is  there  offered  again  ;  they  refuse  ;  and 
again  the  third  time :  but,  finally,  the  fourth  or 
fifth  time,  one  accepts  of  it,  and  takes  a  drink, 
and  getting  one  he  wants  another,  and  then  a 
third,  and  fourth,  till  his  senses  have  left  him. 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


227 


)eeii 

rith 
that 

the 
little 

not 
ither 
of 
land 
or 
link, 
In  a 

lim. 


After  his  reason  comes  back  to  him,  when  he  gets 
up  and  finds  where  he  is,  he  asks  for  his  peltry*^ 
The  answer  is,  *  You  have  drunk  them.'  '  Where 
is  my  gun  ?'  *  It  is  gone.'  *  Where  is  my  blanket  ?' 
*  It  is  gone.'  *  Where  is  ray  shirt  ?'  *  You  have 
sold  it  for  whiskey !'  Now,  brothers,  figure  to 
yourselves  what  condition  this  man  must  be  in. 
He  has  a  family  at  home;  a  wife  and  children 
who  stand  in  need  of  the  profits  of  his  hunting. 
What  must  be  their  wants,  when  even  he  himself 
is  without  a  shirt  ?" 

Austin.  There  is  a  great  deal  of  good  sense 
in  what  Little  Turtle  l^icM  ^ 

Hunter.  The  war  Wtween  England  and 
America  made  sad  confusion  among  the  Indians, 
and  the  missionaries  too ;  for  it  was  reported  that 
the  missionaries  were  ^joining  the  French  against 
the  English,  so  that  they  and  the  Indian  converts 
were  dreadfully  persecuted. 

Colonel  de  Peyster,  who  was  then  the  English 
governor  at  Fort  Detroit,  suspected  the  Christian 
Indians  of  being  partisans  of  the  Americans,  and 
the  missionaries  of  being  spies ;  and  he  wished 
the  Indians  favourable  to  him  to  carry  them  all  off. 
*  Captain  Pipe,  a  Delaware  chief,  persuaded  the 
half  king  of  the  Hurons  to  force  them  away.  Per- 
secution went  on,  till  the  missionaries,  seeing  that 
no  other  course  remained,  they  being  plundered 
without  mercy,  and  their  lives  threatened,  con- 
sented to  emigrate.  They  were  thus  compelled 
to  quit  their  pleasant  settlement,  escorted  by  a 
troop  of  savages  headed  by  an  English  officer. 
The  half  king  of  the  Hurons  went  with  them,^ 


r>,: 


^•.. 


-    *-':,*^ 


3(E 


!228 


THE  INDUNS  0 


But  I  will  read  you  an  account  of  what  took  place 
after  they  reached  Sandusky  Creek.  "  Having 
arrived  at  Sandusky  Creek,  after  a  journey  of  up- 
wards of  four  weeks,  the  half  king  of  the  Hurons 
and  his  warriors  left  them,  and  marched  into  their 
own  country,  without  giving  them  any  particular 
orders  how  to  proceed.  Thus  they  were  aban- 
doned in  a  wilderness  where  there  was  neither 
game  nor  provisions  of  any  kind  ;  such  was  the 
place  to  which  the  barbarians  had  led  them,  not- 
withstanding they  had  represented  it  as  a  perfect 
paradise.  After  wandering  to  and  fro  for  some 
time,  they  resolved  lflM|fcej|l  the  winter  in  Upper 
Sandusky ;  and,  ha^i^^itched  on  the  most  con- 
venient spot  they  could  find  in  this  dreary  region, 
they  erected  small  huts  of  logs  and  bark,  to 
shelter  themselves  from  tlll^rain  and  cold.  They 
were  now,  however,  so  poor,  that  they  had  neither 
beds  nor  blankets ;  for,  on  the  journey,  the  savages 
had  stolen  every  thing  from  them,  except  only 
their  utensils  for  manufacturing  maple  sugar.  But 
nothing  distressed  them  so  much  as  the  want  of 
provisions.  Some  had  long  spent  their  all,  and 
now  depended  on  the  charity  of  their  neighbours 
for  a  morsel  to  eat.  Even  the  missionaries,  who 
hitherto  had  uniformly  gained  a  livelihood  by  the 
labour  of  their  hands,  were  now  reduced  to  the 
necessity  of  receiving  support  from  the  congrega- 
tion. As  their  -wants  were  '='0  argent,  Shebosh 
the  missionarj',  and  several  of  the  Christian  In- 
dians, returned,  as  soon  as  possible,  to  their  settle- 
ments on  the  Muskingum,  to  fetch  the  Indian  corn 
which  they  bad  left  growing  in  the  fields.       :    , 


.'••(P"-, 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


329 


ivages 
only 
But 
intof 
[1,  and 
ibours 
who 
►y  the 
to  the 
rrega- 
[ebosh 
U  In- 
settle- 
corn 


"  Scarcely  had  the  con^reffation  begun  to  settle 
in  Sandusky,  when  the  missionaries  were  ordered 
to  go  and  appear  before  the  governor  of  Fort  De- 
troit. Four  of  them,  accompanied  by  several  of 
the  Indian  assistants,  accordingly  set  off  without 
delay,  while  the  other  two  remained  with  their 
little  flock.  On  taking  their  departure,  they  ex- 
perienced the  most  agonizing  sensations :  partly, 
as  they  knew  not  what  might  be  the  issue  of  the 
journey ;  and  partly,  as  they  were  obliged  to  leave 
their  families  in  want  of  the  common  necessaries 
of  life.  As  they  travelled  chiefly  by  land,  along 
the  banks  of  Lake  Erie,  they  had  to  pass  through 
numerous  swamps,  over  large  inundated  plains, 
and  through  thick  forests.  But  the  most  painful 
circumstance  was,  their  hearing  that  some  of  the 
Indians,  who  had  gone  to  Muskingum  to  fetch 
corn,  had  been  murdered  by  the  white  people ; 
and  that  a  large  body  of  these  miscreants  were* 
marching  to  Sandusky,  to  surprise  the  new  settle- 
ment. This  report,  indeed,  was  not  correct.  She- 
bosh,  the  missionary,  and  five  of  the  Christian 
Indians  were,  it  is  true,  taken  prisoners  at  Sho- 
enbrunn  and  carried  to  Pittsburg.  The  others 
returned  safe  to  Sandusky,  with  about  four  hun- 
dred bushels  of  Indian  corn,  which  they  had  gather- 
ed in  the  fields.  But  as  the  travellers  did  not  hear 
a  correct  statement  of  these  circumstances  until 
afterwards,  they  suffered  meanwhile  the  greatest 
anxiety  and  distress. 

"  Having  arrived  at  Detroit,  they  appeared  be- 
fore the  governor,  in  order  to  answer  the  accusa- 
tions brought  against  them,  of  holding  a  corre" 

20 


'Wij*&S-i' 


■J^i*il,.  .v^ 


.a, 


/"W""  ■ 


230 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


M 


spondence  with  the  Americans,  to  the  prejudice  of 
the  English  interest.  The  investigation,  however, 
was  deferred  till  Captain  Pipe,  their  principal  ac- 
cuser, should  arrive.  A  circumstance  which  could 
not' but  give  them  much  uneasiness,  as  he  had 
hitherto  shown  himself  their  bitter  and  determined 
enemy.  They  had  no  friend  on  earth  to  interpose  ^ 
in  their  behalf;  but  they  had  a  Friend  in  heaven, 
in  whom  they  put  their  trust :  nor  was  their  con- 
fidence in  Him  in  vain.  On  the  day  of  trial, 
Captain  Pipe,  after  some  ceremonies  had  passed 
between  him  and  Colonel  de  Peyster,  respecting 
the  scalps  and  prisoners  which  he  had  brought 
from  the  United  States,  rose  and  addressed  the 
governor  as  follows : — *  Father — You  commanded 
us  to  bring  the  believing  Indians  and  their  teachers 
from  the  Muskingum.  This  has  been  done.  When 
we  had  brought  them  to  Sandusky,  you  ordered 
•»us  to  bring  their  teachers  and  some  of  their  chiefs 
unto  you.  Here  you  see  them  before  you.  Now 
you  may  speak  with  them  yourself,  as  you  have 
desired.  But  I  hope  you  will  speak  good  words 
unto  thefn :  yea,  I  tell  you,  speak  good  words 
unto  them ;  for  they  are  my  fiiends,  and  I  should 
be  sorry  to  see  them  ill  used.'  These  last  words 
he  repeated  two  or  three  times.  In  reply  to  this 
speech,  the  governor  enumerated  the  various  com- 
plaints he  had  made  against  the  brethren,  and 
called  upon  him  to  prove  that  they  had  actually 
corresponded  with  the  Americans,  to  the  pre- 
judice of  the  English.  To  this  the  chief  replied, 
that  such  a  thing  might  have  happened ;  but  they 
would  do  it  no  more^  for  they  were  now  at  Detroit. 


:0^- 


fll- 


NORTH  AMEBICA. 


231 


%•• 


The  governor,  justly  dissatisfied  with  this  answer, 
peremptorily  demanded  that  he  should  give  a  direct 
reply  to  his  question.  Pipe  was  now  greatly  em- 
barrassed ;  and,  bending  to  his  counsellors,  asked 
them  what  he  should  say.  But  they  all  hung 
their  heads  in  silence.  On  a  sudden,  however,  he 
rose,  and  thus  addressed  the  governor : — *  I  said 
before  that  such  a  thing  might  have  happened ; 
now  I  will  tell  you  the  truth.  The  missionaries 
are  innocent.  They  have  done  nothing  of  them- 
selves ;  what  they  did,  they  were  compelled  to 
do.'  Then,  smiting  his  breast,  he  added :  '  I  am 
to  blame,  and  the  chiefs  who  were  with  me.  We 
forced  them  to  do  it  when  they  refused ;'  alluding 
to  the  correspondence  between  the  Delaware  chieS 
and  the  Americans,  of  which  the  missionaries  were 
the  innocent  medium.  Thus  the  brethren  found 
an  advocate  and  a  friend  in  their  accuser  and 
enemy.  ^ 

"  After  making  some  further  inquiries,  the  go- 
vernor declared,  before  the  whole  camp,  that  the 
brethren  were  innocent  of  all  the  charges  alleged 
against  them ;  that  he  felt  great  satisfaction  in  their 
endeavours  to  civilize  and  Christianize  the  In- 
dians ;  and  that  lie  would  permit  them  to  return 
to  their  congregation  without  delay.  He  even 
offered  them  the  use  of  his  own  house,  in  the  most 
friendly  manner ;  and  as  they  had  been  plundered, 
contrary  to  his  express  command,  he  ordered  them 
to  be  supplied  with  clothes,  and  various  other 
articles  of  which  they  stood  in  need.  He  even 
bought  the  four  watches  which  the  savages  had 
taken  from  them  and  sold  to  a  trader.    After  ex- 


■■■^' ' ' 


332 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


periencing  various  other  acts  of  kindness  from  him 
they  returned  to  Sandusky,  and  were  received 
with  inexpressible  joy  by  their  families  and  the 
whole  congregation." 

AtisHn.  Well,  I  am  dad  it  has  all  ended  so  hap- 
pily. Captain  Pipe  and  Colonel  de  Peyster  acted 
an  unworthy  part,  to  suspect  the  missionaries. 

Brian.  They  did ;  but  the  colonel  declared  be- 
fore the  whole  camp  that  they  were  innocent. 
That  was  making  some  amends  for  his  suspicions. 

Basil.  Captain  Pipe  ought  to  have  been  ashamed 
of  himself. 

1  Hunter.  The  missionaries  went  through  various 
trials,  and  nearly  a  hundred  Christian  Indians-^ 
men,  women  and  children — were  cruelly  slaugh- 
tered ;  but  afterwards  tW  missions  began  to  wear  a 
more  prosperous  appearance.  I  have  now  kept 
you  longer  than  usual.  The  next  time  you  come 
Jiere,  I  will  finish  my  missionary  account.  Though 
among  the  tribes  near  the  whites  great  changes 
have  taken  place,  yet,  among  the  Indians  of  the 
far- west,  their  customs  are  but  little  altered.  They 
join  in  the  buffalo  hunt,  assemble  in  the  war- 
party,  engage  in  their  accustomed  games,  and 
smoke  the  pipe  of  peace,  the  same  as  ever. 


>H-. 


'^ 


.;»*- 


■J«  iT" 


'^• 


$■ 


iM' 


■€k 


m.. 


•v» 


./•  •*> 


r:y^-! 


t      -^  ,.>Ji,-4i. 


KORTH  AMERICA. 


233 


••*- 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


In  the  fonner  part  of  the  hunter's  reIatio% 
Austin  Edwards  and  his  brothers  thought  of  little 
else  than  of  bluffs  and  prairies,  buffaloes,  bears 
and  beavers,  warlike  Indian  chiefs  and  t^^irit- 
stirring  adventures  of  savage  ^fe  ;  bu|^  the  lasA'^ 
visit  paid  to  the  cottage  had  considerably  sobere4 
their  views.  The  hunter  had  gradually  won  his  , 
way  into  their  affections,  by  contributing  largely 
to  their  amusement;  and  he  had^  also,  secured 
their  respect  apd  high  opinion,  by  his  serious  re- 
marks. They  had  no  doubt  of  his  being  a  true 
friend  to  Indians,  and  they  had,  on  that  account, 
listened  the  more  attentively  to  what  he  had  ad- 
vanced on  the  subject  of  missionaries.  The  know- 
ledge that  they  w^  about  to  hear  the  end  of  the 

20* 


»j. 


'A 


'W 


//  *. 


234 


..,''j<. 


THE  n?DIAN8  OF 


t  >v. 


hunter's  relation,  though  it  hung  a  little  heavy  on 
their  spirits,  disposed  them  to  seriousness  and  at- 
tention. 

"And  now,"  said  the  hunter,  as  soon  as 
Austin,  Brian,  and  Basil  had  seated  themselves 
in  his  cottage,  and  requested  him  to  continue  his 
missionary  account,  "I  will  give  you  the  best 
statement  I  can,  in  ^  few  words,  of  the  number 
of  people  who  are  employed  among  the  Indians 
in  the  missionary  cause." 

Austin.  Yes ;  we  shall  like  to  hear  that  very 
well. 

^  Hunter,  The  American  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners for  Foreign  Missions  sustain  missionary 
stations  among  the  Cherokees,  Choctaws,  Pawnees, 
Oregon  tribes,  Sioux, Ojibbe was,  Stockbridge  tribe, 
New  York  tribes  and  the  Abenaquis.  There  are 
twenty-five  stations  and  twenty-three  missionaries, 
three  medical  missionaries,  three  native  preachers, 
two  physicians,  teii  male  and  forty-five  female 
assistants. 

The  Board  of  Missions  connected  with  the  Pres- 
byterian church  sustain  missions  among  the 
Creeks,  the  lowas  and  Sacs,  and  the  Chippeways 
and  Ottawas ;  three  missionaries  and  their  wives 
and  several  teachers  are  employed. 

The  missionary  society  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  have  established  missions  among  the 
Shawnees,  Dela wares,  Wyandotts,  Kickapoos, 
Pottawatomies-jChoctaws,  Chickasaws,  Cherokees, 
Seneeas,  Creeks,  Oneidas,  Winnebagoes  and 
some  smaller  tribes.    From  the  last  report  of  this 


^: 


■>^. 


# 


^  \j4tiH^A 


NORTH  ABfEBICA. 


235 


laborious  society,  1844, 1  have  copied  a  passage 
which  I  will  read  you : 

"  It  is  now  generally  conceded,  by  those  best  ac- 
quainted with  the  peculiarities  of  the  Indian  cha- 
racter, that  however  pov/erful  the  gospel  may  be, 
in  itself,  to  melt  and  subdue  the  savage  heart,  it 
is  indispensable,  if  we  would  secure  the  fruits  of 
our  missionary  labours,  to  connect  the  blessings 
of  civilization  with  all  our  Christian  efforts.  And 
we  rejoice  to  learn,  that  among  many  of  the  In- 
dian tribes  the  civilizing  process  is  going  on,  and 
keeping  pace  with  their  spiritual  advancement. 
They  are  turning  their  attention  more  and  more 
to  agriculture,  and  the  various  arts  of  civilized 
life.  They  have  also  established  a  number  of 
schools  and  academies,  some  of  which  they  have 
liberally  endowed  from  the  annuities  they  receive 
from  the  United  States  government.  Some  of  these 
schools  are  already  in  successfi^  operation,  and 
many  of  the  Indian  youth  are  making  rapid  ad- 
vancement in  literary  pursuits." 

The  Baptist  Board  of  Missions  have  seven  mis- 
sions, embracing  nineteen  stations  and  out-sta« 
tiohs,  thirty-two  missionaries  and  assistants,  ten 
native  preachers  and  assistants,  fifleen  organized 
churches  and  sixteen  hundred  professing  Chris- 
tians. These  missionary  labours  are  among  the 
Ojibbewas,  Ottowas,  Tonewandas,  Tuscaroras, 
Shawnees,  Cherokees,  Creeks  and  ChoctaVs.        V 

The  United  Brethren  or  Moravians,  and  the 
Board  of  Missions  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
church,  also  maintain  missions  among  the  Indians* ' 


m(^ 


'*' 


■^  '--'i^. 


236 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


f  3 


Austin.  How  do  the  missionaries  preach  to  the 
Indians.  Do  they  understand  their  strange  lan- 
guage? . 

Hunter,  Your  question  calls  to  my  mind  one 
of  the  most  interesting  and  remarkable  events  of 
Indian  history.  I  will  endeavour  to  give  you  a 
brief  account  of  it.  I  refer  to  the  invention  of  an 
alphabet  by  a  native  Cherokee  named  George 
Guess  or  Guyst,  who  knew  not  how  to  speak  Eng- 
lish and  was  never  taught  to  read  English  books. 
It  was  in  1824 — 5  that  this  invention  began  to 
attract  considerable  attention.  Having  become 
acquainted  with  the  principle  of  the  alphabet ;  viz. 
that  marks  can  be  made  the  symbols  of  sound ; 
this  uninstructed  man  conceived  the  notion  that 
he  could  express  all  the  syllables  in  the  Cherokee 
language  by  separate  marks,  or  characters.  On 
collecting  all  the  syllables  which,  after  long  study 
and  trial,  he  cdtld  recall  to  his  memory,  he  found 
the  number  to  be  eighty-two.  In  order  to  express 
these,  he  took  the  letters  of  our  alphabet  for  a  part 
of  them,  and  various  modifications  of  our  letters, 
with  some  characters  of  his  own  invention,  for  the 
rest.  With  these  symbols  he  set  about  writing 
letters;  and  very  soon  a  correspondence  was 
actually  maintained  between  the  Cherokees  in 
Wills  Valley,  and  their  countrymen  beyond  the 
Mississippi,  500  miles  apart.  This  was  done  by 
individuals  who  could  not  speak  English,  and 
who  had  never  learned  any  alphabet,  except  this 
syllabic  one,  which  Guess  had  invented,  taught 
to  others,   and  introduced  into  practice.     The 


m.' 


:-ifz: 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


237 


the 
ting 


m 
the 


interest  in  this  matter  increased  till,  at  length, 
young  Cherokees  travelled  a  great  distance  to  be 
instructed  in  this  easy  method  of  writing  and 
reading.  In  three  days  they  were  able  to  com- 
mence letter-writing,  and  return  home  to  their 
native  villages  prepared  to  teach  others.  Either 
Guess  himself,  or  some  other  person  afterwards, 
discovered  four  other  syllables ;  making  all  the 
known  syllables  of  the  Cherokee  language  eighty^ 
six.  This  is  a  very  curious  fact ;  especially  when 
it  is  considered  th^t  the  language  is  very  copious 
on  some  subjects,  a  single  verb  undergoing  some 
thousands  of  inflections.  All  syllables  in  the 
Cherokee  language  end  with  vowels.  The  same 
is  true  of  the  language  of  the  islanders  of  the  Pa- 
cific ocean.  But  in  the  Choctaw  language,  syl- 
lables often  end  with  consonants. 

"  Some  months  since,"  says  a  report  of  the  Che- 
rokee mission  in  1825,  "  Mr.  Dai4d  Brown  com- 
menced the  translation  of  the  New  Testament  into 
Cherokee,  with  the  occasional  assistance  of  two 
or  three  of  his  countrymen,  who  are  more  tho- 
roughly acquainted,  than  he  is,  with  that  language. . 
Already  the  four  Gospels  are  translated,  and  fairly 
copied  ;  and  if  types  and  a  press  were  ready,  they 
could  be  immediately  revised  and  printed  and 
read.  Extracts  are  now  transcribed  and  perused 
by  a  few. 

'<  It  is  manifest  that  such  a  translation  must  be 
very  imperfect;  but  it  is  equally  manifest  that 
much  divine  truth  may  be  communicated  by  it, 
and  probably  with  more  accuracy  than  is  com- 


fr-^t:: 


«•* 


^ 


.  .^jii.'<'".'isi-<".i^»'.,i*a*> 


li  P-. 


.^: 


238 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


monly  done  by  preaching,  either  with  an  inter- 
preter, or  without  one."  *■'.•  *  '  mi'.-^ 
Another  account  is  a  little  more  full : 
"It  is  well  worthy  of  notice,  that  Mr.  Guyst, 
the  inventor,  is  a  man  past  the  middle  age.  He 
had  seen  books,  and,  I  have  been  told,  had  an 
English  spelling-book  in  his  house ;  but  he  could 
not  read  a  word  in  any  language,  nor  speak  the 
English  language  at  all.  His  alphabet  consists  of 
eighty-six  characters,  each  c^  which  represents  a 
syllable,  with  the  exception  of  one,  which  has  the 
sound  of  the  English  5,  and  is  prefixed  to  other 
characters  when  required.  These  eighty-six  cha- 
racters are  sufficient  to  write  the  language,  at  least 
intelligibly.  The  alphabet  is  thought  by  some 
of  the  Cherokees  to  need  improvement ;  but,  as 
it  is,  it  is  read  by  a  very  large  portion  of  the 
people,  though  I  suppose  there  has  been  no  such 
thing  as  a  school  in  which  it  has  been  taught,  and 
it  is  not  more  than  two  or  three  years  since  it  was 
invented.  A  few  hours  of  instruction  are  suffi- 
cient for  a  Cherokee  to  learn  to  read  his  own  lan- 
guage intelligibly.  He  will  not,  indeed,  so  soon 
be  able  to  re^d  fluently :  but  when  he  has  learned 
to  read  and  understand,  fluency  will  be  acquired 
by  practice.  The  extent  of  my  information  will 
not  enable  me  to  form  a  probable  estimate  of  the 
number  in  the  nation  who  can  thus  read,  but  I 
am  assured,  by  those  who  had  the  best  opportu- 
nity of  knowing,  that  there  is  no  part  of  the  na- 
tion where  the  new  Alphabet  is  not  understood. 
^That  it  will  prevail  over  every  other  method  of 
writing  the  language,  there  is  no  doubt;" 


.f 


k    ^.jvs 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


239 


Austin,  Did  they  find  the  language  could  be 
easily  written  and  printed  ? 

Hunter,  In  1828  one  of  the  missionaries  of 
the  American  Board  devoted  himself  to  the  acqui- 
sition of  the  language,  with  a  view  to  translating 
the  Scriptures,  and  preparing  school-books  and 
tracts  for  the  general  instruction  of  the  people. 
As  he  proceeded  in  the  study  of  the  language,  he 
found  it  more  and  more  wonderful  in  its  structure, 
and  the  difficulties  which  must  have  attended  the 
labour  of  reducing  it  to  a  system  became  more 
and  more  apparent. 

Before  this,  howjver,  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
people  was  kindled :  great  numbers  had  learned 
to  read ;  they  were  circulating  hymns  and  portions 
of  Scripture,  and  writing  letters  every  day,  and 
even  procured  a  medal  to  present  to  the  inventor, 
as  a  token  of  their  gratitude  for  this  wonderful 
method  of  writing  their  own  language.  They 
began  to  talk  much  of  printing  in  the  new  and 
famous  characters ;  appropriated  money  to  procure 
a  press  and  types,  and  anticipated  with  joy  the 
printing  of  the  Scriptures  in  a  language  they 
could  read  and  understand.  ^ 

At  the  same  time  the  missionaries  to  the  Choc* 
taws  were  reducing  their  language  to  a  system. 
One  of  them  collected  more  than  3000  words, 
arranged  according  to  the  subjects  to  which 
they  refer,  which  he  translated  into  English. 
Ten  hymns  were  also  translated  ihto  Choc-^ 
taw,  and  a  spelling-book  prepared  in  the  sdxxad 
language. 


«i 


■¥: 


h 


1/ 


I 


I  M 


* 


240 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


Austin,  But  let  us  hear  what  became  of  the 
Guyst's  Cherokee  alphabet.  As  that  was  an 
invention  of  his  own,  it  seems  very  wonderful. 

Hunter,  I  will  tell  you.  In  the  summer  or 
fall  of  1827,  there  was  an  examination  of  one  of 
tlie  Cherokee  mission  schools,  on  which  occasion 
one  of  the  chiefs  made  an  address  in  the  Cherokee 
language,  of  which  the  following  is  a  translation. 
I  "Dear  children: — I  often  speak  to  you,  and 
encourage  you  to  continue  in  the  pursuit  of  useful 
knowledge ;  such  knowledge  as  will  be  for  your 
own  good,  and  that  of  your  own  country.  You 
are  engaged  in  a  good  thing.  I  am  always  pleased 
to  see  the  progress  you  are  making  in  learning. 
I  feel  that  much  depends  on  you.  On  you  de- 
pends the  future  welfare  of  your  country. 

"When  I  was  young  there  were  no  schools 
among  us.  No  one  to  Xeach  us  such  learning  as 
you  are  now  obtaining.  My  lot  was  quite  different 
from  yours.  You  have  here  many  advantages. 
Improve  them.  Pursue  the  paths  of  virtue  and 
knowledge.  Some  of  your  fathers,  who  first 
agreed  for  the  teachers  to  come  among  us,  are 
now  no  more.  They  are  gone. 
^  "  It  is  now.  some  years  since  a  school  -was 
established  in  Creekpath,  your  native  place.  I 
myself  aided  to  build  the^nr^  school-house.  At 
first  the  children  did  not  learn  very  fast.  Butnow, 
since  the  establishment  of  a  school  at  this  place, 
they  are  doing  much  better.  I  have  reason  to 
believe  you  are  learning  as  fast  as  might  be  ex- 
pected.   Some  of  you  have  been  in  school  five 


>',       If, 


»■-*■ 


,-ln. 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


241 


figes. 
and 
first 
are 


fr.^-f- 


years,  and  some  not  so  long.  You  have  now 
acquired  considerable  knowledge.  By-and-by 
you  will  have  more.  This  gives  me  great  satis- 
faction. Remember  that  the  whites  are  near  us. 
With  them  we  have  constant  intercourse;  and 
you  must  be  sensible  that,  unless  you  can  speak 
their  language,  read  and  write  as  they  do,  they 
will  be  able  to  cheat  you  and  trample  upon  your 
rights.  Be  diligent,  therefore,  in  your  studies, 
and  let  nothing  hinder  you  from  them.  Do  not 
quarrel  with  each  other.  Aid  one  another  in  your 
useful  employ ;  obey  your  teachers,  and  walk  in 
the  way  they  tell  you." 

In  November,  after  this  speech  was  delivered, 
a  fount  of  types  in  the  new  Cherokee  alphabet 
was  shipped  from  Boston  to  the  Cherokee  nation : 
and  from  an  account  published  at  the  time,  I  take 
a  few  sentences. 

"  Thei  press  will  be  employed  in  printing  the 
New  Testament  and  other  portions  of  the  Bible, 
and  school-books  in  the  Cherokee  language,  and 
such  other  books  in  Cherokee  or  English  as  will 
tend  to  diffuse  knowledge  through  the  nation. 
A  proi^pectus  has  also  been  issued  for  a  news- 
paper,, entitled  the  Cherokee  Phcenix,  to  be  printed 
partly/  in  Cherokee,  and  partly  in  English ;  the 
first  tnumber  of  which  is  expected  to  appear  early 
in  Jjfnuary,;^^  All  this  has  been  done  by  order  of 
the  fcherokee  government,  and  at  their  expense. 
The;|y  have  also  hired  a  printer  to  superintend  the 
prinlting  office,  to  whom  they  give  $400  a  year, 
and  1  another  printer  to  whom  they  give  $300. 


/I 


21 


'« 


242 


THE  INDIANS  OF 


i't- 


Mr.  Elias  Boudinot,  who  was  educated,  in  part, 
at  the  Foreign  Mission  School,  then  established 
in  Cornwall,  (Conn.,)  ^as  appointed  editor,  with 
a  yearly  salary  of  $300. 

"  Among  the  Cherokees,  then,  we  are  to  see  the 
first  printing-press  ever  owned  and  employed  by  any 
nation  of  the  aborigines  of  this  continent ;  the  first 
effort  at  writing  and  printing  in  characters  of  their 
own;  the  first  newspaper,  and  the  first  book 
printed  among  themselves;  the  first  editor;  and 
the  first  well  organized  system  for  securing  a 
general  diffusion  of  knowledge  among  the  people. 
Among  the  Cherokees,  also,  we  see  established 
the  first  regularly  elective  government,  with  the 
legislative,  judicial,  and  executive  branches  dis- 
tinct ;  with  the  safeguards  of  a  written  constitu- 
tion and  trial  by  jury.  Here,  also,  we  see  first 
the  Christian  rehgion  recognised  and  prot  'oted  by 
the  government ;  regular  and  exemplary  Christian 
churches;  and  flourishing  schools  extensively 
established,  and,  in  many  instances,  taught  by 
native  Cherokees." 

Brian.  I  suppose,  by  this  time,  they  aave  a 
great  many  books  printed,  and  more  thain  one 
newspaper. 

Hunter.  Alas,  poor  fellows!  they  have  had 
something  very  different  to  think  about  since  the 
times  I  have  been  speaking  of.  I  c^ttnot  i  aake 
you  understand  all  the  particulars.  But  the 
government  of  the  state  within  whose  boundsi  the 
Indian  country  lay,  wished  to  have  the  Indians 
under  their  control ;  while  the  Indians  considlered 
.^1^  '"  ■  - 


4 


NORTH   AMERICA. 


243 


themselves,  and  had  always  been  treated  by  the 
United  States  government  as  independent  nations 
or  communities.  Treaties  were  made  with  them 
just  as  with  foreign  nations.  There  were  diffi- 
culties on  every  side.  A  proposition  was  made 
to  them,  to  sell  their  lands  to  the  United  States, 
and  remove  to  a  country  beyond  the  Mississippi. 
Some  of  the  tribes  were  in  favour  of  this,  and 
some  were  opposed  to  it.  The  state  government 
became  more  and  more  urgent  for  their  removal, 
and  at  last  effectual  measures  were  adopted  for 
this  purpose,  and  the  Cherokees  and  other  tribes 
were  driven  from  their  homes,  which  were  now 
becoming  the  abodes  of  civilization  and  comfort  * 
and  Christian  love,  and  were  compelled  to  find  a 
new  residence  in  the  far,  far  distant  West.  It  is  a 
melancholy  and  reproachful  chapter  in  our  history 
as  a  nation ;  and  we  have  reason  to  fear  that  a 
day  of  retribution  is  at  hand,  if,  indeed,  it  is  not 
now  upon  us.  There  is  a  just  God,  who  plucks 
up  and  destroys  even  the  mighty  nations  of  the 
earth;  and,  in  every  period  of  the  world,  his 
power  to  visit  their  iniquities  has  been  exhibited. 

Austin.  And  have  all  efforts  for  their  improve- 
ment been  given  up  ? 

Hunter,  O,  no.  As  I  told  you  just  now, 
several  interesting  and  prosperous  missions  are 
established  among  them  in  their  new  abode  ;  and 
so  lately  as  the  years  1843-4,  the  sum  of  $300 
was  appropriated  by  the  American  Bible  Society, 
towards  printing  portions  of  the  New  Testament 
in  the  Dakota  tongue,  for  the  use  of  the  Sioux. 


%■■ 


244 


THE   INDIANS   OF 


And  the  same  blessed  volume  is  now  in  the 
course  of  publication  at  the  Bible  Society's  house 
in  New  York,  in  the  language  of  the  Ojibbewas. 
This  is  a  large  tribe,  and  their  tongue  is  under- 
stood by  several  of  the  neighbouring  tribes.  It 
is  hoped  that  the  possession  of  the  gospel  of 
peace  hy  the  Sioux  and  Ojibbewas,  in  their  re- 
spective tongues,  will  produce  a  more  pacific 
spirit  between  these  two  hostile  tribes.  To  this 
end  Christians  should  pray  that  the  Scriptures  of 
truth  may  be  accompanied  by  the  Spirit  of  truth ; 
that  they  may  bring  forth  the  fruits  of  holiness ; 
and  that  the  remnant  of  the  tribes  may  all  be 
brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Saviour. 

There  are  many  obstacles  to  this  most  desirable 
event.  The  wars  that  break  out  unexpectedly 
among  the  tribes,  the  reverence  entertained  for 
superstitious  customs,  their  removals  from  one 
place  to  another,  the  natural  indolence  of  Indians, 
and  their  love  of  spirituous  liquors,  given  by  white 
men  in  order  to  deceive  them ;  these  and  other 
causes  are  always  at  work,  operating  against  the 
efforts  of  the  missionary.  I  might,  it  is  true,  give 
you  more  instances  than  I  have  done  of  an  en- 
couraging kind,  respecting  the  Indians  generally.'* 


f 


*  The  reader  is  referred  to  a  memoir  of  Gathaiiikb 
Browit,  a  converted  Cherokee  girl,  (written  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  AwDERRoir,  and  published  by  the  American  Sunday^ 
school  Union,)  for  one  of  the  most  interesting  exhibitions 
of  the  influence  of  the  Gospel  upon  the  human  heart,  as 
well  as  for  a  very  correct  and  gratifying  account  of  mis- 
sionary labour  and  success  among  untutored  Indians. 


<^ 


NORTH  AMERICA. 


945 


But)  perhaps,  it  >vill  be  better  now  to  sum  up  the 
account  by  saying,  the  missionary  is  at  work 
among  them  with  some  degree  of  success ;  and 
though,  from  the  remoteness  of  many  of  the 
tribes,  their  strong  attachment  to  the  superstitions 
of  their  forefathers,  and  other  causes  already 
alluded  to,  the  progress  of  Christianity  is  neces- 
sarily slow,  there  is  no  doubt  that  it  will  ultimately 
prevail ;  the  promise  has  gone  forth,  and  will  be 
fulfilled ;  the  heathen  will  be  the  inheritance  of 
the  Redeemer,  and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth 
will  be  his  possession.  He  who  has  clothed  the 
arm  of  the  red  man  with  strength,  shod  his  feet 
with  swiftness,  and  filled  his  heart  with  courage, 
will,  in  due  time,  subdue  his  cruelty  and  revenge ; 
open  his  eyes  to  discern  the  wondrous  things  of 
God's  holy  law ;  dispose  his  mind  to  acknowledge 
the  Lord  of  life  and  glory,  and  make  him  willing 
to  receive  the  gospel  of  the  Redeemer. 


THE  END. 


ar 


